DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced the conviction by jury trial in the case against a Snellville man accused of beating a man to death. "On Monday, jurors found Jaheim Sims, 22, guilty on three counts of Felony Murder, Aggravated Battery, two counts of Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony," revealed Boston.
The incident occurred on September 10, 2020, when officers responded to an assault on Tilly Mill Road. A witness described the brutal attack, stating, "I heard someone screaming and saw two men repeatedly punching and kicking the victim in the head." The witness recounted how the attackers did not stop even when the victim lost consciousness and dragged him across the street.
During the investigation, it was revealed that the attack on Mario Vasquez Lopez was random and unprovoked. Lopez, who had no connection to the defendants, suffered severe injuries and underwent multiple procedures to try to heal a severe brain injury. Despite efforts, doctors determined he was unlikely to recover. Lopez passed away in October 2022 from the delayed effects of blunt force trauma to the head.
Following the guilty verdicts, Judge Stacey Hydrick sentenced Defendant Sims to life without the possibility of parole plus five years. The Co-Defendant received a 30-year sentence, with 20 years to serve in confinement and the remaining on probation.
The prosecution team, led by Senior Assistant District Attorney Lauren Caldwell, worked diligently on the case, with assistance from other members including Senior Assistant District Attorney Sam d’Entremont and Victim Advocate Sandra Trejos-Roman. Doraville Police Department Det. Rogers played a crucial role in the initial investigation.
The tragic incident serves as a reminder of the consequences of senseless violence and the importance of justice in such cases.