In Port Royal, South Carolina, a young life was tragically cut short on the afternoon of December 3, 2021. Thomas 'Juice' Parker III, a 3-year-old boy, died from a gunshot wound at the Oak Hill Terrace apartments. Friends and family lovingly knew him as 'PJ' and 'Juice.' He was a happy child, adored by many, who had dreams of becoming a church musician and playing the drums.
He was a student at Beaufort Elementary Head Start and was known for his love of Oreo cookies, Slim Jims, hot dogs, and especially oatmeal pies.
The Port Royal Police Department responded to a distressing call from the boy's father, Thomas Parker Jr., at 4:30 p.m., stating that his son had shot himself. Upon arrival, officers found the father visibly distraught, sitting on the floor while on the phone with dispatch, with his son beside him. Emergency medical services pronounced the child dead at the scene. The boy's 1-year-old sister was also present in the home at the time of the incident.
According to the ongoing investigation, authorities believe the child discovered the firearm in a kitchen drawer. Based on these findings, the Port Royal Police Department has indicated that they do not expect to file any charges against the parents. An autopsy was scheduled to be performed at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. The community was left to mourn the loss of a child described as his younger sister's 'first teacher,' who was patiently teaching her the alphabet, new words, and numbers.
