Police arrest Daniel Porter-Kelly, 31, in killing of musician Will Sims, who was beaten and shot targeted by three white men in California

28-year-old musician Will Sims was found by a cop on patrol lying in the roadway, dead from gunshot wounds, on Nov. 12

Police believe Williams was targeted and killed because of his race.

Two other suspects, 32-year-old Ray Simons and Daniel Ortega, 31, still at large

Daniel Ortega’s mother Renee Brown, 54, arrested for interfering with the investigation.  Bail for Brown is set at $500,000 

Cops believe William Sims death was a ‘hate’ crime

Around 2:10 a.m. on Nov. 12, a sheriff’s sergeant was on patrol in El Sobrante and discovered William Sims lying in the roadway in Richmond, California  suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives believe that Sims some kind of altercation occurred between Sims and his assailants, before his death.
Sims was jumped inside a pool hall called the Capri Club in El Sobrante, California.
According to the Sheriff’s Department he was robbed, then beaten and shot. Police have not released why they believe that Sims was targeted because of his race; they attached a hate crime enhancement to the charges.
Sims, a musician who palyed in an awaed winning college jazz band was a retail worker. He had no known gang ties and no criminal history, according to the sheriff’s office.

Nabbed: Daniel Porter-Kelly, has been arrested in killing of musician Will Sims

 

The Charismatic  Sims  (above at the piano) played in an award-winning university jazz group. While many knew Sims as an accomplished pianist, he also played the guitar, saxophone, violin and was a respected singer with a deep, rich voice.
Police said the victim, 28-year-old William Sims, was targeted and killed because of his race. One of three suspects was arrested Tuesday, in connection with the fatal shooting of Sims.
Around 2:10 a.m. on Nov. 12, a sheriff’s sergeant on patrol in El Sobrante discovered Sims lying in the roadway suffering from a gunshot wound. Sims was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives believe that Sims was at the Capri Club on Appian Way when some kind of altercation occurred.

Sims, a musician and retail worker, had no known gang ties and no criminal history, according to the sheriff’s office.
Members of the community described him as a very gentle person and helped others whenever he could.Daniel Porter-Kelly, 31, was arrested last Wednesday and is facing murder and robbery charges in addition to a hate crime enhancement for the fatal shooting.
Contra Costa County prosecutors and sheriff’s officials could not elaborate on the nature of the alleged hate crime, citing the ongoing investigation.
Deputies are still looking for two other suspects involved in the shooting. They’ve been identified as 32-year-old Ray Simons of Hercules and 31-year-old Daniel Ortega, a resident of either Novato or Richmond, sheriff’s officials said.

Two of the suspects,  Ray Simons and Daniel Ortega still at large

During the investigation, sheriff’s deputies arrested the mother to one of the fugitives, Renee Brown mother of Daniel Ortega was held by deputies on suspicion of interfering with the investigation. Brown, 54, of Novato and is being held with bail set at on $500,000.
Porter-Kelly is being held at the Martinez Detention Facility without bail. He’s scheduled to be arraigned at the George D. Carroll Courthouse in Richmond on Monday, prosecutors said.
The public is encouraged to contact the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office at (925) 646-2441.
The two suspects are considered armed and dangerous and anyone who spots them should not approach them, according to the sheriff’s office.