In the summer of 2016, a life was cut tragically short in Jackson, Mississippi. Charles Alexander McDonald Jr., a 17-year-old male, died on Thursday, July 21, 2016. His death occurred in the parking lot of Performance Oil, a business in south Jackson.
The events leading to McDonald's death began when he was discovered breaking into a vehicle in the business's parking lot. Wayne Mitchell Parish, a vice president and co-owner of the business, confronted McDonald.
Parish, who was armed with a handgun, attempted to stop the teenager. A struggle ensued between the two, during which McDonald was shot multiple times in the chest. McDonald was unarmed during the incident.
Following the shooting, Parish was questioned by the Jackson Police Department and initially released. However, he was later arrested on December 29, 2016, and charged with first-degree murder. Parish's attorney argued that the shooting was in self-defense, stating that a tussle occurred over the gun after McDonald ran at Parish and grabbed it. This claim was reportedly supported by video evidence, though the motion also noted it was unknown who pulled the trigger. In January 2017, a judge granted Wayne Mitchell Parish a $50,000 bond.
