TACOMA, WA – Today James Mapp III, 16, was arraigned on a charge of Murder in the First Degree. The court set bail in the amount of $1,000,000. Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist filed charges on May 31, 2016 against seven defendants in the murder of Lorenzo Parks, 38.
“Thank you to all who provided information leading to the arrest of the seven defendants in the murder of Lorenzo Parks,” said Prosecutor Lindquist. “We will hold fully accountable all those responsible for the death of Mr. Parks.”
On May 18, 2016, Pierce County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call in the area near Pacific Avenue and S. 127th Street in Parkland. Upon arrival, deputies found Parks lying on the ground in front of an auto parts store in a pool of blood, deceased.
A witness reported seeing a group of young people “harassing” Parks. During the altercation, one of the defendants pointed a gun at Parks. The group asked Parks to give them everything in his pockets. Parks turned out his pockets, showing that he had nothing. At some point during the interaction, one of the group shot Parks. Parks died from the gunshot wound. Mapp surrendered to Pierce County Sheriff’s deputies over the weekend at Remann Hall, the Juvenile Court and detention facility in Tacoma.
All of the defendants charged in the shooting of Parks are now in custody. Lonnie Brantley, Jr., 19, and Jamar Jones, 20, were arraigned on May 31, 2016 and held on bail of $500,000. Khiry Baylis, 16; Dasjon Robinson, 16; and Rasjon Robinson, 16, were arrested later and arraigned on June 3, 2016. They are each held on bail of $1,000,000. Dakota Collins, 16, was arraigned on June 7, 2016 and is also held on bail of $1,000,000.
Because of the seriousness of the charges, the defendants will be prosecuted as adults per Washington State law. Charges are only allegations and a person is presumed innocent unless he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
For more information, please contact John Nourse at (253) 798-6243, [email protected].