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December 29, 2005

Police ID man shot to death in Providence / Photo

Journal photo/Bill Murphy
The Providence police say several shots were fired through the window of this house at 444 Cahill St.

PROVIDENCE - The Providence police have released the name of the 34-year-old man shot to death early this morning in the city's 21st murder of the year.

The police identified the victim as Tonea A. Sims, 34, whose last known address was 130 Dante St., Providence. His nickname was "Nut," police said.

Sims was in the kitchen of a single-family home he was visiting at 444 Cahill St. when several shots were fired through a window on the side of the house, according to Maj. Stephen Campbell, commander of the investigative division.

"Clearly he was the target of the shooting, and we are investigating the motive," Campbell said.

Sims was struck more than once, according to a department press release, although Campbell would not specify how many times he had been hit.

The police were called to the house at 1:26 a.m., and Sims was taken to Rhode Island Hospital, where he later was pronounced dead of his wounds, according to the police.

The police had withheld releasing Sims' name until his next of kin could be notified. He has family in Georgia who have been informed of his death, according to the police.

- Journal staff writer Gregory Smith

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