PORTLAND, OR – A Portland man was sentenced to 29 years in prison Tuesday after being found guilty of fatally shooting his former girlfriend in front of her family last year, authorities announced.
Richard D. Simms Jr., 32, received the sentence in Multnomah County Circuit Court for the November 2023 killing of Nicole L. Davis. The court found Simms guilty on charges including first-degree manslaughter, unlawful use of a weapon, and felony possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, the incident unfolded on Nov. 22, 2023, at an apartment complex in the city’s Parkrose Heights neighborhood. Police responded to the 11100 block of Northeast Weidler Street just after 4 p.m. following reports of gunfire. When officers arrived, they discovered Davis, 40, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the back. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators determined that Simms had earlier visited Davis’ apartment but left after an argument. He returned later that day, reportedly angered by the presence of Davis’ relatives who were staying for Thanksgiving. Tensions escalated, leading to a heated dispute between Simms, Davis, and members of her family.
During the altercation, witnesses said Simms brandished a handgun and aimed it at Davis, attempting to fire several times, but the weapon initially malfunctioned. As Davis turned to walk back into the apartment, Simms was able to make the gun work and fired three shots into her back, authorities said. The shooting took place in full view of Davis’ family, including her two children.
Police identified Simms as the suspect soon after the incident, but he fled the area before they arrived. Following a multi-month search, law enforcement authorities, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service, located and arrested Simms in March 2024.
Prosecutors argued that the deadly confrontation was preceded by a violent episode two days earlier, when Simms assaulted Davis, giving her a black eye. The couple had been estranged at the time of the shooting, according to those familiar with the case.
In court, prosecutors described the killing as a blatant act of domestic violence and highlighted its traumatic impact on Davis’ loved ones and the broader community. Family members who witnessed the shooting have reportedly struggled to process the tragedy.
Authorities underscored that the case exemplifies the deadly consequences of domestic violence, especially when it occurs in the presence of children. Davis’ death, they said, serves as a grim reminder of the far-reaching ripple effects such crimes have on families.
Simms will serve his sentence in an Oregon state correctional facility without the possibility of parole for nearly three decades.