Jury Convicts Juvenile of 1st Degree Murder, Use of a Firearm in Parkside Shooting Case

For immediate release: October 24, 2024

Chesapeake, Va. - Matthew R. Hamel, Commonwealth's Attorney for the City of Chesapeake, announces that a juvenile was convicted of 1st Degree Murder and Use of a Firearm in the Commission of Murder on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, in the Circuit Court of the City of Chesapeake, after he was certified by the Chesapeake Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court to be tried as an adult. The jury found the defendant guilty after three days of testimony and approximately one hour of deliberation.

A sentencing hearing will be held on February 27, 2025. Judge Marjorie A.T. Arrington, who presided over the jury trial, will sentence the defendant. The maximum penalty is life in prison.

At trial, the Commonwealth's evidence established that the victim, Mr. Rashee Parson, was standing outside of an apartment in the 3000 block of Parkside Drive. The defendant and a codefendant, acquaintances of Mr. Parson, greeted him and continued walking. Moments later, the two turned around, returned to Mr. Parson and began shooting. There was no additional interaction or confrontation and Mr. Parson was unarmed. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner performed an autopsy and located twenty separate gunshot wounds in his body. Both shooters fled the scene. After he was arrested, a search of the defendant's cell phone revealed data that placed him at the scene of the crime.

The case was investigated by Homicide Detectives Robert Hatchell and Tracy Alexander, with significant assistance from the Chesapeake Police Department's Gang Suppression Unit. The case was prosecuted by Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Stephanie Pass and Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Emily McLaughlin, with significant assistance from Susan Overton and Patty Strathmann, of the Chesapeake Sheriff's Office Victim / Witness Program and Coleton Hatchell of the Chesapeake Commonwealth's Attorney's Office. Point of contact for media inquiries: Gloria Nuss at 757-382-3213.

This case is one of several shootings to have recently occurred in this area, some of which remain unsolved. If you have any information please contact the Crime Line anonymously at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP℠ (1-888-562-5887), submit a tip online at P3TIPS.COM, or on your smart phone on the P3TIPS APP.