Passenger Killed during Domestic Argument

DA Charme Allen announces that prosecutors in the Major Crimes Unit obtained a sixteen-year sentence against a woman who shot a passenger in her ex-boyfriend’s car during an argument.  Kyeisha Alazae Dalton, 23, was found guilty-as-charged of Second Degree Murder and Reckless Endangerment.  Following a sentencing hearing today, Judge Hector Sanchez sentenced Dalton to serve sixteen years in prison without the possibility of parole.

In a three-day trial in November, Assistant District Attorneys Rachel Hill and Danielle Jones explained to the jury that on July 18, 2022, Dalton had been in an argument with her ex-boyfriend, Tobias Billingsley.  The argument became physical, and Billingsley ripped off Dalton’s wig and took her phone before driving away.  Dalton pursued Billingsley in her vehicle, passed him, and boxed him in.  Billingsley exited his vehicle and broke Dalton’s phone.  Dalton tried to hit Billingsley with her car then turned her car around and fired a handgun into the rear passenger seat of Billingsley’s vehicle, killing the victim who was sitting in the backseat of the car.  Knoxville Police Department Det. Chas Terry interviewed Dalton who admitting firing the handgun and killing the victim.

“This is another unfortunate case where an argument quickly escalated to gun violence, and in this case, the person who paid the ultimate price wasn’t even part of the argument,” said DA Allen.

Assistant Victim Witness Coordinator Kara Sowards aided in the prosecution of this case.

If you have any questions, please contact Sean McDermott at 865-215-2515 or Sean.McDermott@knoxcounty.org. For more information about the District Attorney’s Office, visit our website at dag.knoxcountytn.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.