Today, in a Supreme Court sentencing hearing, a tragic chain of events that began nearly a year ago reached a somber conclusion. After initially being denied bail, Dahny Simons-Outerbridge stood before the court and pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Zijae Jones, whose life was taken during a violent confrontation at Horseshoe Bay Beach in May 2024.
The court heard that tensions between the parties began the day prior, on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at the Baileys Bay Cricket Club, where Zijae Jones became involved in an altercation with friends of the defendant. The confrontation reportedly involved a group of males, some of whom were carrying weapons, escalating concerns and hostility between the two sides.
On Friday, May 24, 2024, at approximately 3:15 p.m., police received a 911 call reporting several males throwing bottles at Horseshoe Bay Beach in Southampton Parish. Among those present was the deceased, Zijae Jones. Witnesses described Jones making a gun gesture with his fingers toward a group of people that included the defendant. Simons-Outerbridge later told police that he felt threatened, believing Jones would return with a firearm. Fearing for his safety and that of his friends, the defendant left the area.
Approximately 15 minutes later, Jones returned to the beach. Another confrontation ensued.
According to the defendant’s account, during this second encounter he observed Jones in possession of a knife. What followed was captured on CCTV footage, which showed Simons-Outerbridge chasing Jones, a pursuit the defendant claimed was intended to keep Jones away from his friends. The footage further revealed the defendant striking Jones with his fist, knocking him to the ground. Jones quickly stood back up, raised his hands, and struck the defendant on the back.
In the moments that followed, Zijae Jones was stabbed several times in quick succession. He later succumbed to his injuries, turning a public altercation into a fatal tragedy.
Today, the court sentence Dahny Simons-Outerbridge to five years in prison for manslaughter.
However, this was not the only matter before the court.
The defendant also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition, stemming from a separate incident months later. The court heard that at 9:00 p.m. on Monday, November 25, 2024, police officers executed a firearm search warrant at Apartment 14, Lusher Hill, Warwick, acting on specific intelligence. Upon arrival, officers found Simons-Outerbridge at the residence along with his grandmother. The reason for the police presence was explained, and the defendant was conveyed to Hamilton Police Station while the search continued.
At 11:41 p.m., officers searching a deep freezer discovered a black shoulder bag containing a firearm. The weapon was photographed in place, seized, and sent to the police armory for forensic examination. Shortly after midnight, at 12:37 a.m. on Tuesday, November 26, Simons-Outerbridge was formally arrested and charged.
Forensic analysis later identified the weapon as a Smith & Wesson .22A pistol, with a 5.5-inch barrel. The magazine contained five rounds of ammunition, and DNA testing linked the firearm to the defendant.
During sentencing, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Cindy Clarke told the court that, taking into account all circumstances—including the defendant’s guilty plea to manslaughter, which avoided a lengthy trial, and other mitigating factors—the appropriate sentencing range was between five and seven years. The court imposed the minimum five-year sentence for manslaughter.
On the firearm charge, which carries a mandatory maximum sentence of 12 years, the court imposed the full 12-year term.
The court ordered that the sentences run consecutively, bringing Dahny Simons-Outerbridge’s total sentence to 17 years in prison.
What began as escalating confrontations between young men ended in irreversible loss—one life taken, another forever altered, and a community left to grapple with the consequences of violence carried from words to weapons.
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