Three days after a jury found Tampa rapper Billy Bennett Adams III not guilty on a double-murder charge, a woman connected to him was murdered in her driveway.

After changing his story multiple times, Adams now says he committed the murder in self-defense. Will Adams be able to successfully claim self-defense in another murder charge?

Adams Claim Self-Defense & Acquitted on Two Counts of First-Degree Murder

On November 19, 2020, Tampa rapper Billy Bennett Adams III, known as Ace NH, was at a music studio in Lutz, Florida. With him in the small studio was the owner, Joseph Meeks and two other men who were there for a recording session. Two of the men wouldn’t make it out of the studio alive.

Adams admits to killing Trevon Albury and Daniel Thompson. He said he did it in self-defense.

Adams was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. During the trial, he took the stand and calmly explained what he believed happened that night, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times.

Adams said he could hear Albury and Thompson talking to each other about how they were going to rob Meeks. Adams said Albury pulled out a gun and pointed it at the back of Meeks’ head. Adams said he then pulled out his gun and shot Albury once in the back of the head. Thompson reached for Adams’ gun so he fired two shots and killed him.

Adam told a compelling story of self-defense on the stand of his trial — and the jury believed him.

On January 27, 2023, a jury found Adams not guilty. The jury believed Adams killed the two men in self-defense.

Just three days later, another person close to Adams was found dead.

Related: Get Good Legal Representation by Asking This One Question

Adams Lies About Whereabouts on the Night of Another Murder

Alana Sims, a 22-year-old pregnant mother, was found dead lying next to her SUV in her driveway on January 30, 2023. She had been shot in the head. Her toddler was asleep and unharmed in the vehicle next to her.

An unidentified witness said Sims was planning to attend a party the night of her murder. She was invited to celebrate her boyfriend’s recent acquittal on murder charges. The alleged boyfriend was Adams.

In initial questioning, Adams told police he knew Sims but didn’t know she was dead. He claimed he hadn’t seen or spoken to her in weeks. He also said he had been home the night of January 30.

But footage from Sims’ subdivisions proved otherwise.

According to reporting by the Tampa Bay Times, surveillance videos from Sims’ subdivision show a black Chevrolet Malibu, with a license tag registered to Adams’ father, entering the subdivision at 7:22 p.m. on January 30. Footage shows Sims’ vehicle entering the subdivision at 7:36 p.m. and Adams’ vehicle leaving at 8:21 p.m.

Footage from Adams’ gated community shows the same vehicle leaving at 7:10 p.m. and returning at 8:32 p.m. Upon searching the Chevrolet Malibu, police found two live 9mm bullets.

Related: If You’re Arrested for a Crime, Immediately Take These 6 Steps

Adams Changes His Story

After being confronted with the evidence, Adams changed his story.

He said he’d been out with friends the night of Sims’ murder and showed police a video he said he had taken that night.

Later, police would determine that the video had been recorded at a different time and day.

They would also find text messages that show Adams talking to another woman about his disappointment over Sims’ pregnancy. Texts said, “Tomorrow dis s— done” and “I meant wat I said. We finna have OUR life. … And it don’t include ha a–.”

Adams was arrested and charged with first-degree murder charge and with killing an unborn child by injury to the mother.

Adams Changes His Story Again & Claims Self-Defense Again

Once in police custody, Adams changed his story again.

According to reporting by the Tampa Bay Times, Adams again claimed self-defense.

Adams now says he met Sims at her home at which time she pulled a gun on him. He said he wrestled the gun away from her and shot her. He said he then drove home and threw the gun away. Adams also admitted he knew Sims was pregnant and that he may be the father.

There are laws in Florida that protect people who use deadly force when they feel their life is threatened.

Often referred to as Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, Florida Statute 782.02 says, “The use of deadly force is justifiable when a person is resisting any attempt to murder such person or to commit any felony upon him or her or upon or in any dwelling house in which such person shall be.”

If Adams goes to trial, he will again attempt to convince another jury that he committed murder in the act of self-defense.

Get Expert Legal Advice

If you have questions about a legal matter, talk to an experienced attorney right away. Every person deserves fair due process of the law. Talk to an experienced criminal defense attorney about your case to make sure you get a fair and just outcome. Request your consultation or call 813-226-1023 to schedule a call with TJ Grimaldi today.

When Kim Kardashian and Kayne West announced their split, many speculated what the terms of their divorce might look like. Now, we know. Here are the terms of the divorce that include West paying $200,000 per month in child support.

A Brief History of Kardashian and West’s Relationship

In 2012, Kim Kardashian and Kayne West announced they were dating. The two had known each other since the early 2000s but officially started dating in April 2012. A little more than a year later, the couple welcomed their first child. The couple was then married in 2014 and welcomed three more children over the next five years.

Throughout the years, the couple had public rough patches that often put them in the news. The public incidents peaked in 2020 when West announced he was running for president of the United States.

In February 2021, Kardashian officially filed for divorce from West.

It had been previously reported that Kardashian and West had a prenuptial agreement. According to reports, the prenup outlined how the couple’s assets would be divided, but it didn’t include guidelines for child custody, child support, and spousal support.

Recently, those details were reported after the couple finalized their divorce.

Related: The Legal Case Behind Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s Divorce   

The Details of Child Custody

According to details of the divorce settlement, Kardashian and West will share joint custody of their four children: North, 9; Saint, 6; Chicago, 4; and Psalm, 3.

Joint custody provides both parents legal custody, physical custody, or both. Legal custody grants a parent the right to make decisions about how the child will be raised and cared for. Physical custody grants a parent the right to have the child live with them.

While the settlement said each parent has “equal access,” it’s likely that Kardashian will live with the children a majority of the time. West has made comments stating that Kardashian is with the kids roughly 80% of the time.

Related: 5 Types of Child Custody and What They Mean for Your Family   

The Details of Child Support

The divorce settlement also stated that Kardashian will receive $200,000 a month from West for child support. West will also pay 50% of the children’s educational and security expenses.

In divorce cases that involve children, child support payments can be determined by the family, through mediation, or by a judge. It appears that West and Kardashian came to the agreement together. The settlement also included directions for what happens if either party has a dispute with the agreement in the future.

The settlement says if the couple has a dispute over their agreement, they must attend mediation. If either party fails to show up to mediation, the participating party becomes the decision-maker.

Related: 6 Ways to Prepare for Divorce Mediation

The Details of Spousal Support

Per the divorce settlement, neither West nor Kardashian will receive spousal support.

It was previously reported that both West and Kardashian requested a termination of the court’s ability to award spousal support back in April 2021. The recent settlement confirmed that the couple waived spousal support.

Related: 9 Questions to Ask a Divorce Attorney Before Hiring Them 

The Details of Property Division

Kardashian and West had already come to an agreement on how to split their property per a prenuptial agreement. It was reported that their prenup stated:

• Kardashian and West would each keep the individual assets they had when they entered the marriage
• Kardashian and West would both keep the individual assets they acquired during their marriage
• Kardashian would receive $1 million for each year she was married to West (capped at $10 million)
• Their primary residence would be in Kardashian’s name
• Kardashian would keep all of the jewelry and gifts given to her by West

Since the details of property division were already outlined, the couple only needed to resolve their family matters for the divorce to be finalized. Now, it appears that all details of their divorce are settled.

Related: What Happens After Divorce Papers Are Served?

How to Navigate a Complex Divorce

Divorce can be complicated. Between splitting up assets and coming to agreements on child support, child custody, and spousal support, a couple has a lot to think about.

If you’re going through a divorce, make sure you have a divorce attorney by your side who can help you consider all of your options and come out with the best possible outcome for everyone involved.

If you’d like to discuss your marital split, talk to TJ Grimaldi. TJ is an experienced family law attorney who can help you terminate your divorce while also setting up agreements for splitting up assets and creating arrangements for your family. Schedule your consultation or call 813-226-1023 today.

After less than a year on the job, Tampa police chief Mary O’Connor resigned. Why did a minor traffic stop on a golf cart lead to her resignation?

What Happened During the Traffic Stop?

On November 12, 2022, Tampa police chief Mary O’Connor was riding in the front passenger seat of a golf cart. Her husband Keith  O’Connor was driving the golf cart on the road illegally in Pinellas County, a county neighboring Hillsborough County where Tampa is located.

The couple was pulled over by Pinellas sheriff’s deputy Larry Jacoby. Jacoby stopped the couple because they were driving on the road without the required license plate tag for a golf cart.

The encounter was caught on body cam footage.

In the video, the officer explains why he pulled the couple over. O’Connor pulls her badge from her pocket and presents it to the officer. She informs him that she is the Tampa police chief and says, “hoping that you’ll just let us go tonight.”

Near the end of the encounter, O’Connor apologizes to the deputy, gives him her business card, and says, “if you ever need anything, call me.”

The officer let the couple go without a ticket.

Related: Get Good Legal Representation by Asking This One Question

The Repercussions After the Traffic Stop

Roughly two weeks after the traffic stop, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay submitted a public records request for the body camera footage of the incident from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

O’Connor knew there was footage from the traffic stop. During the video, she asks the officer if his body cam is on, and he replies that it is.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor was first notified about the incident once the footage was about to be released to the public, 18 days after the traffic stop. O’Connor notified Castor the day the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay the video would be released the next day.

The day the video was released, Castor ordered an internal affairs investigation, and the Tampa Police department released a statement which included comments from both O’Connor and Castor.

O’Connor said, “In hindsight, I realize how my handling of this matter could be viewed as inappropriate, but that was certainly not my intent. I knew my conversation was on video, and my motive was not to put the deputy in an uncomfortable position. I have personally called the Pinellas County Sheriff offering to pay for any potential citation.”

Castor said, “We hold everyone accountable, no matter their position, and this behavior was unacceptable. Chief O’Connor will go through the due process and face appropriate discipline.” Castor then opened an internal affairs review of the incident.

Not long after the release of the video, on December 5, 2022, O’Connor resigned. In a statement, Castor said it was “unacceptable for any public employee, and especially the city’s top law enforcement leader, to ask for special treatment because of their position.”

Assistant police chief Lee Bercaw was named interim police chief.

Beginning and Ending in Controversy

O’Connor’s ten months as Tampa police chief started and ended with controversy.

When O’Connor was named as a police chief in March, many people were upset about the decision. In 1995, when O’Connor (known then as Mary Minter) was a rookie police officer in Tampa, she disrupted a traffic stop. She was a passenger in a car that was pulled over for a suspected DUI. The driver (who was also a Tampa police officer) was arrested for a DUI, and O’Connor was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, obstruction, and disorderly intoxication.

Both officers were fired and then later reinstated. O’Connor went on to have a long career in law enforcement which eventually led to her becoming Tampa’s police chief.

Many in Tampa believed the incident should have disqualified O’Connor, but she was named as Tampa police chief in March 2022. Now after just ten months, the city of Tampa is conducting a national search to find her replacement.

Related: What to Expect From a First Offense DUI

Protect Your Rights

No one is above the law. Every person accused of a potential crime deserves due process and to be treated fairly within the legal system. If you have been arrested for a crime or face any level of criminal charges, talk to an attorney right away. An experienced criminal defense attorney can make sure you receive fair treatment every step of the way. They will also fight for you to get the most just outcome possible.

If you are facing criminal charges, talk to an attorney about your options today. Contact TJ Grimaldi to see how our team can help you navigate your legal situation and come out with the best possible outcome. Request your appointment or call 813-226-1023 now.

It was supposed to be a night of music. Approximately 50,000 people gathered at NRG Park in Houston, Texas, for the Astroworld Festival. The festival was headlined by the event founder, Travis Scott. But as Scott took the stage, chaos ensued. The crowd surged, crushing attendees and leaving hundreds injured and at least ten people dead.

Now, close to 400 lawsuits seek justice for the victims. What happened? How will the cases work their way through the legal system? And, who will be responsible?

What Happened at Astroworld Festival?

On November 5, 2021, thousands of people gathered at NRG Park for Astroworld. Most of them were there to see the headliner, Travis Scott. When Scott took the stage around 9:00 pm., the huge audience began to press toward the stage, causing the large crowd to pack in even tighter. The swell of bodies increased temperatures, made it difficult to breathe, and caused attendees to fall and get stepped on by others around them.

While some attendees yelled for help and emergency vehicles began to remove people from the crowd, the concert mostly went out without interruption.

In the end, more than 300 people were treated for injuries at the festival, twenty-five people were taken to the hospital, and at least ten people died. An eleventh victim is said to include an unborn child who was lost in a miscarriage after the mother was injured at the event.

Now, nearly 5,000 legal claims have been filed against Scott, Astroworld, LiveNation, and others associated with the event.

Related: 6 of the Most Commonly Asked Questions About Personal Injury 

Who Is Charged with Wrongdoing?

Nearly 400 lawsuits have been filed related to the Astroworld incident. It has been reported that up to 50 defendants have been named throughout the list of lawsuits.

The primary defendants include: Scott, who performed and organized the event; Drake, who also performed at the event; LiveNation, who promoted the event; Apple Music, who streamed the event; multiple security firms involved with the event; and other producers and concert promoters connected to the event.

In the hundreds of lawsuits, there are thousands of legal claims. According to Vulture, as of May 9, there were a total of 4,932 legal claims on behalf of roughly 2,800 victims. The claims include:

• 732 for physical injury with extensive medical treatment
• 1,649 for physical injury with less extensive medical treatment
• 2,540 listed as other

With so many cases filed, the Texas Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation granted a joint motion to combine the litigation before a single judge for all pre-trial proceedings, according to Billboard.

The hundreds of plaintiffs were grouped into four categories: those who were killed, those who have traumatic brain injuries, those who have bodily injury, and those who have PTSD. The plaintiffs are seeking wrongful death and personal injury compensation and alleging that the defendants were negligent in their duty to create a safe setting for attendees.

Related: Examples of Wrongful Death Cases Worth Fighting For

Will There Be Criminal Charges?

Shortly after the incident in November, both local and federal investigations were quickly launched.

According to Vulture, Houston city officials called the event a “mass casualty” incident. Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said on November 6, “It’s now a criminal investigation that’s going to involve our homicide division as well as narcotics.” This statement came in response to allegations that someone at the event was stabbing people with needles that contained narcotics.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said he was forming a task force on concert safety to study what went wrong and how to prevent something similar from happening in the future. The FBI is also involved and launched a website where people can submit recordings and photos to help investigators collect information.

While there are local and federal investigations going on, it’s unlikely at this time that there will be any criminal charges filed. According to the New York Times, the outdoor venue could have held 200,000 people. It held far fewer people at the time, and legal permits were issued and inspectors were on site. The legal case will likely remain in civil courts.

Related: Types of Personal Injury Cases: Do You Have a Claim? 

Seeking Justice for Personal Injury

What happened at Astroworld was a terrible tragedy, and the people harmed by the incident are seeking justice for themselves and their loved ones. If you or someone you know isharmed by the negligence of another party, you also deserve justice.

If you believe you have a personal injury or a wrongful death claim, talk to an experienced attorney who can guide you through the legal system to get justice. TJ Grimaldi is an experienced attorney ready to discuss your case. Talk to him during a free consultation to review your case. Call 813-226-1023 or request your consultation today.