On a summer afternoon in Lexington, South Carolina, a verbal argument between two longtime friends tragically escalated, leaving one man dead and the other facing a lifetime behind bars. Parrish Scott Phillips, a 49-year-old male, was shot and killed on June 27, 2021. The incident unfolded at a residence on Freedom Drive, where Phillips had been staying with his friend.
Responding to a call about shots fired at approximately 5:25 p.m., Lexington Police Department officers discovered
Phillips in the backyard of the home, suffering from several gunshot wounds to his upper body. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation quickly pointed to Jabin Elliotte Trapp, also 49 at the time, as the perpetrator. Investigators learned that an argument between Trapp and Phillips preceded the fatal shooting.
According to authorities, Trapp admitted that during the argument on his back porch, he went inside his home, retrieved a handgun from his bedroom, returned, and shot Phillips multiple times. Trapp was subsequently arrested and charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
During his trial, which took place from September 16-19, 2024, Trapp claimed he acted in self-defense. However, prosecutors presented evidence that Phillips, who was unarmed, was shot on his blind side as he wore an eyepatch and was recovering from recent surgery. A forensic pathologist testified that Phillips sustained multiple fatal gunshot wounds to his back and side. Ultimately, a Lexington County jury found Jabin Trapp guilty of murder. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison and is not eligible for parole. Family and friends of Parrish Scott Phillips remembered him as a beloved father, brother, uncle, and son, often seen with his service dog, 'Max'.
