Anthony Bisket Parra, a 30-year-old man from Cleveland, OH, was tragically shot and killed on August 28, 2019, outside a barber shop on Clark Avenue. Parra, who was African American, was on his way to buy shoes for a new job when he was fatally shot by two men in a black hoodie. The assailants fled the scene in a blue Volkswagen Passat, which was later found burned behind an abandoned church in Cleveland's Kinsman neighborhood.
The investigation into Parra's death led to the arrest of
several suspects. Witnesses identified the getaway vehicle, and police traced it to Frank Q. Jackson, the grandson of Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson. Despite the evidence, Frank Q. Jackson was not taken into custody immediately after the murder. Instead, he was found at his grandfather's residence, and although police intended to question him, they left without doing so after a phone call between Mayor Jackson and the police chief.
In the aftermath of Parra's death, his mother, Andrea Parra, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Mayor Jackson and Cleveland Police Chief Calvin D. Williams. The lawsuit alleged that the gunmen responsible for Parra's murder were gang members affiliated with Mayor Jackson's grandsons and that the mayor and police chief used their positions to obstruct the investigation. The case brought significant attention to the alleged misuse of power and the need for transparency in the investigation.
The tragic death of Anthony Bisket Parra and the subsequent legal battles highlight the complexities and challenges faced in seeking justice for victims of violent crimes. The case remains a poignant reminder of the impact of such losses on families and communities.
