Two plead guilty to 2020 murder in Wilmington

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - Two people have pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection to the death of Tywan Shaquille Parsley in Dec. 2020.

Per the District Attorney’s office, Rebecca Phillips and Jahmear Richardson pleaded guilty and were sentenced this week. Phillips was sentenced to 126-164 months (10-14 years), and Richardson was sentenced to 94-125 months (8-10 years).

According to officials at the time, police got a call about a shooting at around 3 a.m. on Dec. 30, 2020, near the 1000 block of S. 13th St. 26-year-old Parsley was pronounced dead at the scene and had been shot at least five times.

“Wilmington Police Department detectives were quickly able to identify Richardson and Phillips as suspects thanks to information provided to them by a cooperating witness to the crime. Officers got a search warrant for Phillips’ house and found the two murder weapons wrapped in a child’s blanket and hidden in the attic. Crime Scene Investigators found 8 shell casings from two guns,” the District Attorney’s Office wrote in a press release.

Parsley’s family was inside the home at the time of the shooting and attempted CPR on Parsley. His family described him as a loving son and husband who is missed every day.

“This family experienced a tragedy on the doorstep of their home just 5 days after Christmas. Tywan’s family will spend every holiday season reminded of the life and love that Richardson and Phillips took from them. I hope his family finds some comfort in knowing that Richardson and Phillips are being held accountable for their crimes,” said Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Z. Donaldson.

Richardson was arrested on Jan. 2, 2021, and Phillips was arrested two days later on Jan. 4. Richardson’s name was withheld at the time because he was 16 years old.

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