FAYETTEVILLE, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Mount Hope man has been convicted of first-degree murder.
Fayette County Prosecuting Attorney Anthony Ciliberti, Jr., has announced that on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, Kayce R. Simms, age 21 of Mount Hope, was convicted of the felony offenses of first-degree murder and use or presentment of a firearm during the commission of a felony following a six-day jury trial before Circuit Judge Thomas H. Ewing.
Simms is facing life in prison for the murder conviction and up to ten (10) years in prison for the firearm conviction.
The jury granted Simms mercy meaning Simms will be eligible for parole after serving fifteen (15) years in prison.
On November 21, 2022, police responded to 98 Teng Lane in the Glen Jean area of Fayette County in relation to a shooting.
Upon arriving, it was determined that the victim, Ashtin Owens, age 37, had sustained two gunshot wounds.
Owens was transported via helicopter to a trauma center in Charleston but later succumbed to his wounds.
During the investigation, it was determined that earlier in the day Owens had been in an argument with the grandmother of Simms.
Simms obtained a firearm from an acquaintance and went to Owens’ residence to confront Owens for disrespecting his grandmother.
Upon arriving at Owens’ residence, Simms entered the residence to confront Owens and after a brief argument, Simms shot Owens two times with a firearm. Simms then fled the scene.
Three witnesses were present in Owens’ home at the time of the shooting, and two of the witnesses were able to identify Simms as the shooter.
This crime was investigated by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department Detective Bureau.
The case was prosecuted by Prosecuting Attorney Anthony Ciliberti, Jr. and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, R. Wes Toney.
