Man accused of killing 9-year-old in Old East Dallas takes plea deal

Tyrese Simmons, accused of mistakenly shooting into an apartment and killing a 9-year-old girl in East Dallas, accepted a plea deal on Monday.

Under the agreement, Simmons agreed to serve 5 years in state prison for manslaughter and an additional two years for jumping bail. The plea deal follows a mistrial declaration when two witnesses altered their testimony during the trial.

Last Wednesday, Simmons initially pleaded not guilty before Judge Hector Garza in the 195th District Court.

The trial, originally scheduled to commence last summer, was delayed after Simmons fled just days before his court appearance. He was apprehended in Oklahoma and detained in August of the same year.

The charges stem from an incident in August 2019 when Simmons allegedly fired five shots into an apartment on Munger Avenue, resulting in the tragic death of 9-year-old Brandoniya Bennett, who was on the verge of starting 4th grade.

According to Dallas police, Simmons was engaged in a dispute with another rapper and mistakenly targeted the apartment, believing it belonged to his rival.

While Simmons turned himself in to authorities the day after the shooting, he was released on bond several months later. However, last summer, just before his trial, he reportedly removed his ankle monitor and fled.

During opening statements, defense attorneys asserted that the evidence against Simmons was insufficient, highlighting the absence of eyewitnesses, firearms, fingerprints, and DNA evidence. They also criticized the detective work on the case, alleging that key individuals involved in the supposed altercation were not adequately interviewed by law enforcement.