Wayne Parish will have a chance to go free after Hinds County Circuit Judge Winston Kidd set bond for him this morning. Parish was indicted for murder in the shooting death of 17 year-old Charles McDonald last June. Parish attorney Merrida Coxwell requested a $50,000 bond. Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith unexpectedly appeared for the prosecution. He said he did not object to the bond. He told the court that he learned of "the existence of a video of the incident three days ago" and had not had time to review it. Anxious friends and family packed the small courtroom as they anxiously waited to see if Parish would receive a bond.
Attorney Merrida Coxwell addresses Judge Kidd |
The video shows McDonald walking down McDowell Road. His mother attempted to take him Henley-Young Youth Detention Center down the street but the troubled young man jumped out of the car and ran away. Troubled because his mother said he had been at Henley-Young eight times in the last two years. The video shows him walking across the property of Performance Oil. A Lexus ES350 attracted his interest. He picked up an object and apparently tried to smash open a window and gain access to the vehicle.
There were two outstanding warrants for McDonald's arrest at the time of the shooting. One involved a police chase. The motion for bond states that he was "involved in a house burglary and almost shot by homeowner."
The video shows Mr. Parish coming out of the office and confronting McDonald. The police report states the Vice-President of Performance Oil was carrying a Smith & Wesson .38 revolver. Mr. Parish chases McDonald around the car. McDonald then charges at the businessman. There is a struggle and both men are apparently fighting over the gun. McDonald crumples to the ground when shots are fired as the rounds struck him in the upper torso. A pick-up truck pulls up and a woman who knew the deceased gets out of the vehicle. Police arrived on the scene within two minutes. The police report states that Mr. Parish submitted to an interview and was not charged with a crime. It also states the case was sent to a grand jury. He was arrested on December 29, 2016, two months after the grand jury returned the indictment. The indictment also states the incident took place on June 21, 2016.
Earlier posts
Parish's son accuse D.A. of grandstanding
Post with copy of video and police report
Parish arrested
41 comments:
He learned of the video three days ago! RSS disgusts me.
So Smith has the time for a public appearance in the courtroom, but has not found the time or at least the minimum effort to see the 30 second tape that all but negates any reason for these playground antics.
This example screams of why "white folks" need to stay out of "Jacktown". By the way, when are they going to find Andrew Jackson a white supremacist and change the name of the city?
Thank goodness! I hope they come to their senses and drop the case altogether.
Hmmmmm. Young man attempts to smash car window, possibly looking for a gun in glove compartment. Defender attempts to protect himself and other employees at his business. Young man gets killed in process of trying to wrestle gun away. Defender gets indicted. Stay out of Hinds County or the same thing could happen to you.
@12:04 - Your comment that white folk need to stay out of Jackson.... So you don't want white folk's tax dollars to help support the city? I grew up in Jackson. My parents paid taxes and lived in a wonderful place back in the 70's, 80's and early 90's. I guess they should not have been in Jackson either. You are a racist. Get a life!
What a waste of emotions and finances for the true victim, Mr. Parish! This was traumatic for him the day it happened and continues. Now the prosecution admits they haven't seen the video, the police didn't press charges...they must have seen it. It is my understanding that Mr. Parish was trying to keep the Lexus between them, he was not chasing the troubled young man. In the video you clearly see Mr. Parish charged at by the boy. Mr. Parish tried to scare the bugular off by going outside with a gun. There is nothing wrong with that. He has the right to protect his property and employees.
I no longer go to Jackson for anything. The natives can have it.
12:00PM is right. Another example of incompetence in the DA's office. Let's see:
The shooting occurred on July 21, 2016.
The DA presents the case to the grand jury and gets an indictment against Mr Parrish 3 months later on October 29.
Two more months pass until they serve the indictment on this supposed murderer on December 29. (Does it really take this long to serve an indictment on someone who is accused of murder?)
Now on January 10, the DA admits that he only learned of the video 3 DAYS ago, on roughly January 7.....6 months after the supposed crime and 2 1/2 months after he got an indictment on the guy.
So RSS now admits he didn't review the evidence before seeking a indictment. Isn't the DA supposed to review all evidence before deciding whether to even seek an indictment ? Surely the presence of the video was known the day off or the day after the incident happened during the police investigation of the incident.
Hasn't even seen the video??? Omg how do any white people go anywhere near that dump of a city is beyond me. Why subject yourself to that treatment when you could easily live in decent areas?
DA was much too busy trying to get charges dropped for some preferred thugs. He doesn't have time to waste on white people. Especially one who had to use force to stop one of the favorite thugs.
The whole thing stinks. Shows a completely useless and ignorant law enforcement.
What sort of criminal and civil penalties can a DA face for malicious prosecution in MS?
RSS, despite the recent controversies, rarely appears before the Grand Jury. One ADA [who I will not identify] is assigned to review all cases sent to that office by law enforcement and present the cases to the Grand Jury. That ADA was criticized by more experienced ADAs, most of whom have departed. No way to be sure JPD even sent a copy of the tape with their case materials since they expected it to be nolle prosequi.
I hope that when RSS sees the tape, he promptly kills this case, as he has with others in the past.
Really funny that half of the people calling Jackson a dump, work in the city. Lol go find a job somewhere else then.
Therese Apel has a story up now on the Clarion-Ledger site, which is generally sympathetic to Parish's plight. However, she says of the video, "at the end it appears Parish shot McDonald again while he is on the ground."
She's evidently mistaking the dust kicked up by the mother's rear tires (as she abruptly pulls her truck forward) for a final gunshot. Parish has already turned away by that time.
She also states that McDonald was shot multiple times, instead of twice.
In any case, I'm glad Mr. Parish is finally getting bonded out.
Question -is that MC SUPERVISOR Gerald Steen in the photo of citizens at the bond hearing?
Wonder if the Grand Jury would have indicted if Mr. Parish had been black? Not being racist, just saying what everyone else is thinking.
2:00, The places where people work are the businesses that have been in Jackson for a long time. Before the clowns in charge now took over. There is no new businesses moving in. If the ones there now could get rid of the real estate they have now they would be out of Jackson.
One other thing. The businesses in Jackson have to go to the suburbs to find qualified people. There are just room for a certain amount of fast food places. Jackson burger flippers are not really wanted anywhere else and that is about all that is left in Jackson.
Better check those fries.
Hate to break it to you, 2:00, but there are MANY high paying jobs outside of the city of Jacktown. And the number is growing everyday. Only time I've ever worked in Jackson was odd jobs in high school.
What sort of criminal and civil penalties can a DA face for malicious prosecution in MS?
Zero. Sovereign immunity.
3:49...
The Mississippi Bar can have a rather strong voice in the case of a DA or any attorney that plays way outside the lines...think Nifong.
The CL reporter should not have given an opinion that would taint a jury. Just the facts.
Take it grand jury and get an indictment gets you criticized. Don't take it to the grand jury and drop the case gets you criticized. If the citizens do not think this was a criminal act, then they, as jurors, will so decide one day.
The MS Bar is a collection of pussies when it comes to making controversial, tough but needed decisions.
4:30 -
I agree in the abstract.
But there's no way the MS bar will go after a black elected official.
What the hell did this killing have to do with race? It seems some people are consumed with the idea that only white people go to jail in Hinds County and black people can get away with anything. Go to Parchman and see who is getting away. Black people as well as whites are sick and tired of thugs like the kid who burglarized Mr. Parish's business and want justice for Parish whether he is is white or not. Justice has no color.
People, Jackson has turned the corner. No more crime.
Stokes, the brains of the outfit, has come up with an idea. According to one of the local news stations he is going to get an ordinance passed that will make it against the law to shoot cops in Jackson.
Why didn't someone think of that before? No telling what other ideas will pop into that sweaty head.
6:10 - white guy who lives and owns rental biz in Jxn. This is about race look at local news here is a large segment of black folks and an assortment of liberals who want to see innocent cops in jail for shooting thugs in this very scenario. Meanwhile, white folks like me trying to make it in this city now realize how complicated dealing with these thugs who harass us regularly as we go about our daily lives just got. We used to think we could carry a gun and if we were attacked we could just blow their brains out. It wasn't perfect but it allowed you to function and to know if you were victimized that day you at least had a decent chance. Now what shall we do? Put our family thru us getting a murder charge and leave it up to Hinds county courtroom? Or let them just do whatever and hope you survive? Black folks are shooting people in this city in the yard with physical altercation even. Of course this is about race.
7:32. Obviously all your problems are about race, what are your solutions about? You talk as if black people are not victims of thugs just like whites. Or that black folks aren't trying to "make it" as well without being harassed in their daily lives too just like "white folks like you". The racists in our society, black and white, are always trying to find a racial dividing line on every incident, instead of looking for the common interests of people so that we might ALL stop this shit.
8:48- how intellectually stimulating of you to call me a racist! People like you make me so sick. Because I live and work in Jxn the majority of people I deal with are black and there are a ton of them that I like just fine. And most of them know what a HUGE crime problem they have. How will it ever be fixed if it isn't even acknowledged. For you to call me a racist when I state something so obviously based in reality is pathetic. Seriously, you are a pathetic person. With that kind of stupidity I hope you spend most of your time in Jxn somewhere that has security or its own police force like a large company or college campus because your dumbass would never make it in the true city where I go everyday. It's like being in prison these street kids can smell a stupid sissy and they would pick your bones clean. Wow racist? Pathetic name caller.
5:17 - Point taken. However, among those who oppose this indictment, the angst seems to be based on comparative analysis of other cases before the grand jury. There have been too many "no bills" when the DA's office claims there's not enough evidence prosecute. Too many well known house burglars caught by JPD with stolen property in their vehicle or home, but there's no indictment because the thief says the stolen items were left there by a friend, cousin, etc. Sure enough, the friend or cousin is a thief, too, but there's no evidence to prove who actually stole the items. The same crooks continue to terrorize our neighborhoods for years on end, even tho they're being arrested regularly.
RSS's admission that he knew nothing of the video until just recently is quite telling. that simply means he never showed the video to the grand jury. had he done that , the defendant probably would never have been indicted.
Wasn't me. I switched back to Kingfish Monday. Someone got cute. Not allowing the use of that screen name again though.
Smith may not have touched the case. The indictment states it was handled by Walter Bleck.
7:32, can you please explain to us who elects the city leaders who let the city turn into a crime sanctuary? Was it the white voters? If I remember right the city of Jackson is about 90% black. Do you think 10% of the people control the city? Do you think maybe the other 90% might have some blame in the cesspool?
Please notice on the local news when there is a crime committed and the people are asked if they saw anything how they scatter? The criminal may be their neighbor or family member but suddenly they have never seen them before. Notice how criminals are let out of jail without spending a night in jail for the crimes they committed. Just today on this forum there is a thread about a person who was charged with multiple crimes and even sentenced to 15 years in prison. Please tell us how long the thug was in jail.
99.9% of indictments are handled by Bleck. They're indicted before they're ready and before the DA has seen all of the evidence.
Apparently Bleck is an idiot but RSS fires so many people that he will eventually have employed every lawyer within 100 miles.
It's a Shame when a man is put behind bars as "a criminal" for protecting his property! If a young man is stupid enough to charge at a gun then he made the wrong CHOICE! Mr. Parish is the victim here! I'm sure he feels aweful about this incident, he just happened to get caught up in this young mans mess. This generation needs a extra class in school on ALL the outcomes of what there choices in life will and can lead to. How can the DA stand up with confidence asking for 75,000 dollar Bond on this man when they haven't even seen the video. This whole case is fishy against Mr. Parish!
Comment from the DA in an interview, "There was a detective that apparently presented this case to the grand jury, and the grand jury made the decision based on that presentation." Not only has the DA not reviewed the evidence per his statements, also that he wasn't aware of the case going to the grand jury in October. Is it normal that a detective would present a case to the grand jury, has this detective presented other cases, does the detective have any connections to McDonald's family?
Still waiting to be impressed by defense attorney Coxwell, so far underwhelmed.
Can't believe you wanna be part of the cover up to. That's said
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