Athlete held in slaying

KENLARRIS KELLY

By Samantha Lyles
slyles@newsandpress.net

One Darlington teenager is dead and another charged with murder after a Sept. 24 shooting incident.
Darlington Police Chief Kelvin Washington said that around 11 p.m. on Thursday night, Sept. 24, reports came in of gunfire near the Short Coker Street area.
According to the incident report, a witness stated that she heard gunshots and “observed an unknown person running down Brunson Street” from the edge of the walking path at Arnold Street and Brunson Street.
“Officers responded to that area and upon their arrival, they canvassed the area and found a young man with a gunshot wound. EMS was notified and he was transported to McLeod Regional Hospital, where he later expired,” said Washington.
Darlington County Coroner J. Todd Hardee identified the victim as Jameke Parker, 18, of Darlington.
After an investigation, police charged Kenlarris Kelly, 18, of Darlington, with one count of murder and one count of attempted murder. Kelly is a member of the football team at Darlington High School.
Kelly went on to play in the Falcons’ Sept. 25 game against Myrtle Beach the next evening.
According to police, Kelly attempted to shoot a second person at the scene, but that person escaped. Reports indicate that Kelly and Parker were friendly and knew each other prior to the shooting.
The wooded area at the end of Short Coker Street has been the site of previous gunfire reports, Washington said. Regarding a motive for the slaying, he said, “We are still actively investigating all possibilities and motives.”
Kelly was being held at the W. Glenn Campbell Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing with a 4th Circuit Court judge.

Author: Stephan Drew

Share This Post On

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This
x
6
Posts Remaining