chicago Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Gary Fatal Shooting
GARY, IN – A Chicago man was sentenced to 20 years in prison Tuesday after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter in connection with the death of a Gary man last June, according to defense attorney Michael Campbell.
DyeQuan Kizer, 30, entered a plea agreement in April for voluntary manslaughter under sudden heat, admitting to fatally shooting Darius Sims, 29, of Gary, on June 9, 2023. Sims died from a single gunshot wound to the chest.
The incident stemmed from a domestic dispute. Court filings indicate Sims had evicted his girlfriend and their two children from a residence. Kizer, the children’s father, was on the phone with the woman and reportedly overheard a portion of the argument.
A “heated argument” then ensued between Kizer and Sims, culminating in Kizer retrieving his children and returning to confront Sims, ultimately shooting him, prosecutors stated.
Kizer faced a potential sentence of 10 to 30 years. While he is ineligible for sentence modification in the near future, Campbell noted in a text message that Kizer could apply for a modification at a later date.He will remain on parole for the remainder of his life, court documents show.
Campbell alleged that Sims used a racial slur when directing Kizer to pick up the children, creating a “toxic and tense situation.” At the sentencing hearing, Kizer reportedly apologized to Sims’ family. filings indicate Kizer had no prior criminal record but made a “terrible decision.”
Gary police responded to a homicide call at a residence in the 2500 block of Madison Street around 4:10 a.m. on June 9, 2023. According to a probable cause affidavit, the woman had called Kizer, a Lyft driver, to collect the children.While on speakerphone with Kizer, both men began shouting obscenities. The woman told police Sims assisted her in gathering her belongings and there was no physical altercation prior to the shooting.
A witness told police Kizer appeared and shot Sims,who immediately clutched his chest before collapsing.
The case was presided over by Judge Gina Jones, with Deputy Prosecutor Maureen Koonce assigned to the prosecution.
Post-Tribune archives contributed.
mcolias@post-trib.com
