Every single person that is labeling this as a racial hate crime is an idiot.  Nowadays, if you actually have a problem with other races, your the minority.  I don’t say that because of the color of your skin, but the color of your heart.  Every person is equal and honestly, most of the world has caught up to that fact.  It’s the small population of people who want to play that card to make up excuses for crime, unfortunate events, whatever the case may be.  As for Ethan, I know he’s a good guy.  Through his family and mine, I know that he couldn’t have been the triggerman.  I don’t think Stephanie did either, so I’ll let you guess who I’d point the finger at.  Was it because of Talik’s race?  No, it was because someone made a really stupid decision that affected everyone around him.  If he really cared, he’d come clean and at least the rest of the suspects names would be cleared.  As for everyone that wants to make accusations that the Parrish family are racists?  Get your facts straight and look in the mirror before you open your trap.  Do the rest of the world a favor and just don’t speak anymore.  We’ll all stay a little smarter if you keep your dumbass thoughts to yourself. To everyone involved, guilty or not, my prayers go out to you.  I hope we can all learn from this unfortunate event.

I’m not sure exactly what the Commonwealth’s attorneys said about the defendant’s guilt, but prosecutors in general need to be extremely careful about their public statements and how those might affect the ability to get a fair trial.  The Duke lacrosse case is a great example of how things can go horribly wrong in this regard.

I have known Ethan since he was about 3 years old.  I would have never expected anything like this to be a factor in his life.  He comes from a good family and was brought up “right”.  My prayers go out to him and his family.  With God’s help, they will all get through this.

I send my prayers to Tahliek’s family.  I couldn’t imagine their pain and sorrow.  I also wish the other young man a speedy recovery and pray he heals both physically, emotionally and mentally.

This is an unfortunate happening.  This has greatly impacted our community.  Instead of claiming racial issues, drugs, etc., we should be putting forth a positive effort to make sure something like this doesn’t happen again. 

None of us were there so EVERYTHING is speculation.  Let’s put the rumors to rest and let the court decide.  Justice will be served either through the courts or when God makes his own judgement. 

Powhatan is a small town and everybody knows everybody and their business.  We need to remember that we are put in positions at times when we have to make a decision and face the consequences later.  Or, what about being in the wrong place at the wrong time?  Things happen and we react.  We don’t know what was going on and why a gun was used.  Was it for defense?  Was it just for hate?  Who knows?  Either way it is done and now we just wait. Ethan’s mom said “it’s time to face the music” and that is where they are now.  Pray for them, they are human no matter what mistake/choice they made at the time of this horrific incident.

May peace be with ALL the families involved.

Actually, they weren’t on acid.
Get your facts straight.

Actually, you can drive while on acid.

“Yes I also heard from a very reliable source that they were on drugs, acid, when it happened, I know that does not justify what happened, but come on… They pulled out a BB gun what is the Parrish’s suppose to do, like they knew it was only a BB gun, that I also heard from a REAL REALIABLE source.”

If you were referring to Tahliek and Courtney being on acid, obviously you overlook the fact that it is a mind altering drug.

People on acid WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE. They couldn’t make it down a driveway much less out of a parking lot, through an intersection, and all the way down Dorset. They’d be too conserned with the sound of the colors around them and why their hands now seem ultimately amazing.

Your REALLY REALLY RELIABLE source seems to be faulty.

Powhatan kids know guns, it’s a huge hunting county. They’d know a BB gun from one that could kill them. So pulling out an assault rifle when threatened with a BB gun is asking for the needle.

Joey Parrish was on house arrest at the time and wasn’t even supposed to be out of the house.

He had a prior criminal record. So really this was a matter of time. He was never mentally correct.

I’m a student at Powhatan Highschool.

Let me say the youth is humbled and unified. There is a strong will for the hate to go away and for the love to pour in. We never though we’d loose a friend here. We just want to value the ones we have left.

The rest of the county is too busy pointing fingers.

But we also want justice. We know it was Joey. Tahliek and Joey had an ongoing fued over a private matter. Joey had the motive, Ethan and Stephanie were just accessories.

Our minds are made up, we just want to come together again. We want to feel the love.

RIP Tahliek, condolances to his family, stress relief to the Parrish and Reynolds families.

The gun was an SKS assault rifle.  It was the military weapon of choice just before the introduction of the AK-47.  The Russian engineered SKS is ballistically comparable to a 30-30.  The AK-47 is chambered for a .223

Eugene - I am BLACK!!!  And also have a doctorate degree in psychology, so I am fairly confident that I can read above a third grade level.  I hate, with a passion, our people using racism as an excuse for every bad thing that happens between blacks and whites. 
I dont know anyone involved - I am not related in any way and presently reside in Chesterfield, not Tennessee.  I have been following this blog from the beginning, sitting back and reading everyone’s comments as they were posted.  I agree with you that this should never have happened, without a doubt in my mind.  But I strongly feel that the families should be left out of it - you may not have posted implications of threats, but others have - go back and re-read this blog and others posted in response to other articles on this website.  You have personally called the family racist - both the Goochland Parrish’s and the Powhatan Parrish’s.
And - you have in fact claimed racism - go back in re-read your blogs!!!  I dont personally care if you are black, white, orange or yellow - I have done so much research on racism and it makes me sick -

I feel most sad for the poor boy who survived this as he has been thru so much, and not one person seems to be at all focused on what he has gone experienced in the past few weeks or the battle he will face in the upcoming years emotionally.

Pat… What the hell are you talking about?  I have never threatened anyone on this blogs.  Further, I haven’t misspelled any words, so are you illiterate or you just don’t know how to read above a third grade level?  If Jennifer or you read all my posts, you would have concluded that I haven’t played the race card because I’M WHITE!!!!!!!!!!!  I am from this area, born and raised, are you Jennifer from Tennessee or Pat?  Check her spelling and grammar.  Don’t try to insult me because I don’t agree with you.  I know the sentiment of the people of this area…do you?  So stop the BS.  Let me say this slow so you both can understand the word out of my mouth….  “What ever Tahliek Taliaferro’s done…He didn’t deserve to be killed with an assault rifle!!!” I would say the same if the decease was white and the assailant was black.  It is a hateful act that is racially motivated.  If not, then explain to me why it isn’t, since you guys seem to know more then the rest of us? 

Pat, I going to pray for you, because apparently you thought I was black and use race as an excuse…I guess we know who is the real racist.