Florida rapper arrested after alleged killing of pregnant woman in front of her toddler

Florida rapper Ace NH, whose real name is Billy Bennett Adams III, was arrested Wednesday in connection to the fatal shooting of a pregnant woman who was gunned down in front of her young son just days after he was acquitted on a previous double murder charge. 

Tampa Police said that Adams, 25, has claimed that he fatally shot 22-year-old pregnant Alana Sims in self-defense, reported Fox News.



Sims was five months along in her pregnancy when police said she was murdered on January 30 on a residential street. Responders discovered her body next to her SUV where her toddler was asleep. The boy was reportedly unharmed and is now safe with family.

One week after Sims was found shot to death, Tampa police said Adams "did admit to being the one to pull the trigger," at a press conference, reported FOX13 Tampa.

Adams claimed to police that Sims pulled a gun on him, which he attempted to take away and allegedly accidentally shot her.

Major Mike Stout said Adams was "polite" but not remorseful.

"I didn't find him remorseful in watching my detectives do the interview, no," Stout said. He noted that the preliminary investigation had led police to believe that the motive for the killing was Adams possible paternity of the unborn baby.

"He did not want to be in her life anymore and was not ready to have a child is unfortunately how it appears to us," he said.

On Jan. 27 —  just three days before Sims was killed — a jury in Hillsborough County decided that Adams acted in self-defense in a previous fatal shooting that resulted in the November 2020 deaths of Trevon Albury and Daniel Thompson.

"Mere days after he was acquitted of a separate crime, our homicide suspect did the unthinkable when he killed an innocent woman and her unborn child," Interim Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said in a statement. "I hope this arrest brings some closure to the victim’s family, who is mourning the loss of two loved ones. We are working with the State Attorney’s Office to ensure the suspect is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

State Attorney Susan S. Lopez added, "What this defendant did is unimaginable. Our thoughts and support are with the family members of these crime victims. Since the night of the murders, we have worked closely with TPD to arrest this killer. While we respect the verdict of the jury in the prior case, we disagreed with it and that is why we prosecuted him. We will continue to work with TPD to prosecute him for these latest crimes." 

The mother of the slain woman and grandmother of the unborn baby, Shahlevi Sims, spoke with FOX13 Tampa of the suspect's arrest.

"Justice has been served. I mean, I can't bring my daughter back, but at least we know that the monster that did this was set behind bars," she said. "And maybe he would think now of what he'd done. If not, may God be with him." 

"She shouldn't have to die young," the heartbroken mom told the outlet. "And everybody should know that, you know, your loved ones, you want to keep them close because you just don't know."

Adams has been charged with first degree murder and killing of an unborn child by injury to mother.