Nashville Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Unlawful Possession of Ammunition by a Felon

NASHVILLE - Demetris Octavius Parrish, 37, of Nashville, Tennessee, was sentenced on Friday to 15 years in prison for unlawful possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, announced Acting United States Attorney Thomas J. Jaworski for the Middle District of Tennessee.

At approximately 8:30 a.m. on February 26, 2021, Parrish entered the R&B Market located at 2600 Clarksville Pike, in Nashville. The Market's manager recognized Parrish as a regular customer. They had a brief conversation, during which Parrish said that he wanted to exchange some goods. When the manager told Parrish that he could not return those goods because the Market did not sell them, Parrish became enraged, stated that he would return to kill the manager, and then left the Market.

Approximately 30 minutes later, Parrish returned to the Market carrying a black 9mm pistol. Parrish entered the Market and pointed the pistol at the manager, who was behind the check-out counter. As the manager fled to the rear of the Market, Parrish fired multiple shots at him. Parrish then fled the Market. Parrish's first visit to the Market, the attempted shooting and Parrish's flight from the Market were captured by the Market's surveillance cameras.

Metro Nashville police officers responded and, upon arriving, recovered three 9mm caliber cartridge cases inside the Market from the rounds that Parrish had fired.

"This prosecution demonstrates our office's commitment to protecting the community from repeat offenders who wreak havoc with firearms," said Acting United States Attorney Thomas J. Jaworski. "The defendant was previously convicted of at least six felony offenses, including aggravated assault and aggravated robbery. Thanks to the work by our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, the community will finally be safe from the defendant's crimes for an extended period."

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas J. Goldin and Rascoe Dean prosecuted the case.

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