A Chattanooga jury was empaneled Tuesday to hear a 2015 homicide case that involves a slain witness, a paralyzed toddler, and a yearlong feud between two street gangs.
Attorneys spent the afternoon and morning questioning 84 people about Cortez Sims, who is accused of killing one person, injuring two and paralyzing a 16-month-old after he opened fire inside a College Hill Courts apartment on Jan. 7, 2015.
They settled on a jury at 6:21 p.m. after long conversations with prospective panelists about guns, gangs and the laws that make it possible to introduce testimony from a witness who’s no longer available.
Sims, who is charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder, three counts of employing a firearm during a dangerous felony, and one count of first-degree murder, faces life in prison if convicted.
Prosecutors are not seeking capital punishment against the now-19-year-old, whom they have described as a “hitman” for criminal gangs.