Mathias Alexander Parkinson-Freeman, a 23-year-old male from Saint Petersburg, FL, tragically died on October 18, 2020. The incident occurred while Mathias and his twin brother, Thomas Arnet Parkinson-Freeman, were sitting in a parked vehicle with a friend in Gulfport, FL. The brothers were reportedly joking around when Mathias pulled out a concealed handgun and pointed it at Thomas.
In response, Thomas drew his own firearm from a holster on his security guard gun belt and discharged it, striking Mathias in the face and fatally wounding him.
Thomas Parkinson-Freeman, also 23, was arrested and charged with manslaughter. According to police reports, there was no argument or conflict prior to the shooting, and the incident was deemed to be a result of culpable negligence rather than intentional harm. Thomas admitted to shooting his brother but claimed he did not mean to harm him and could not remember pulling the trigger. He immediately rendered first aid to Mathias after realizing what had happened.
The investigation revealed that the brothers were sitting in a Nissan Pathfinder with a friend when the shooting took place. The friend, who was in the driver's seat, stated that the twins were joking around just before the incident. Police recovered a marijuana pipe from the vehicle, but it was unclear if the men were under the influence at the time. Thomas was released on a $30,000 bond following his arrest.
The case did not involve any further litigation or murder charges, as the authorities concluded that the shooting was accidental. The tragic death of Mathias Parkinson-Freeman highlights the dangers of handling firearms, even in seemingly harmless situations.
