CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- The mother of a 1-year-old shooting victim has been fatally shot, four months before she was to testify against the man accused of paralyzing her daughter.

Bianca Horton WDEF

CBS affiliate WDEF reports that police say 26-year-old Bianca Horton was found dead on the side of Chattanooga road Wednesday morning.

Horton had been a witness in the case against Cortez Sims, who is accused of shooting her daughter, Zoey Duncan, in Jan. 2015.

Sims' trial is scheduled for Sept. 27, 2016. Chattanooga Police Chief Fred Fletcher says authorities are concerned her shooting may be related to the upcoming trial.

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Melydia Clewell, a spokeswoman for District Attorney General Neal Pinkston, did not comment on Horton's role in the case against Sims.

Cortez Sims WDEF

Just after the 2015 shooting, Bianca Horton spoke to WDEF and reportedly said she forgave Sims.

"I'm just happy she's still here with us," she told the station.