Convicted felons sentenced for possession of weapons after shooting

Archive photo. (Source: Getty Images)

CHARLOTTE, NC (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Two convicted felons have been sentenced to years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm during a 2022 shooting.

According to documents obtained as part of the case and court proceedings on August 13, 2022, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers responded to shots fired in the area at East 4th Street and South Brevard Street around 3:52 p.m.

En route, another 911 call came in about a shooting near the Omni Hotel in Uptown, in which a victim, later identified as 24-year-old Damarious Sims of Charlotte, had been shot.

Officers found Sims lying on the ground outside the hotel with a gunshot wound to his left calf. Officers rendered medical aid to Sims and transported him to the hospital.

During the investigation, police determined that Sims was approached by two men who wanted to buy marijuana. The deal was a ruse, and a woman, later identified as 34-year-old Princess Houghton of Salisbury and her brother, planned to attack Sims during the deal.

Both Sims and Houghton pulled out pistols with extended magazines. Houghton shot Sims before fleeing the scene.

Police were able to review footage from area surveillance cameras and identify Houghton’s vehicle leaving the scene of the accident and the address where the vehicle was registered.

On August 23, 2022, police executed a search warrant at Houghton’s home. Houghton’s semi-automatic pistol, loaded with 18 rounds of ammunition plus an additional round in the barrel, was found in a safe in the home. Police also seized another firearm.

Court documents confirm that Houghton used an illegal firearm to shoot Sims. Sims’ firearm was also seized.

Both individuals were arrested on local charges.

While Sims was out on bail on November 30, 2022, he got into an altercation with an individual at the same hotel where he was shot. Sims had another loaded handgun and threatened the individual with it. CMPD responded and confronted Sims, who fled on foot.

After a short chase, Sims was arrested and the weapon was confiscated.

On April 26, 2023, Sims pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

He was sentenced to 76 months in prison followed by three years of probation on both counts. He is currently in federal custody awaiting transfer to the Federal Bureau of Prisons once he is assigned to a federal facility.

On October 25, 2023, Houghton pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Houghton had multiple prior convictions, including assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, accessory after the fact, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and charges related to breaking and entering.

Houghton was sentenced to 96 months in prison, followed by three years of probation. Houghton is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon assignment to a federal facility.