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FBI investigating possibility of civil rights violations in Taliaferro case
91 CommentsPublished: April 14, 2009 By Michael Copley Updated at 4:13 on 4/14/09 A 10-month FBI investigation continues this week, examining potential civil rights violations committed during the shooting death of eighteen-year-old Tahliek Taliaferro last summer. “The FBI has been working on this case since July [2008], I know it’s getting blown up in the media now, but this is not new to us,” said FBI spokesman Lawrence Barry. “The investigation hinges on whether or not the shooting was in violation of a civil rights statute.” There was, according to court testimony, an ongoing feud between Joey Parrish and Taliaferro in the time leading up to the shooting and both, according to accounts, attempted to engage the other in fist fights; many in the community did not believe race to be a causal element in the incident. But there are elements of the civil rights statutes that investigators may deem applicable. According to U.S. Code title 18, section 241, it is unlawful “for two or more persons to conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person…It further makes it unlawful for two or more persons to go in disguise on the highway…with the intent to prevent or hinder [someone’s] free exercise or enjoyment of any rights so secured,” this according to the FBI’s Web site. “Punishment varies from a fine or imprisonment of up to 10 years, or both; and if death results…or an attempt to kill, [offenders shall] be fined under this title or imprisoned for any term of years, or for life, or may be sentenced to death.” “[The FBI] is looking into the totality of the situation,” said Powhatan Chief Deputy D.K. Giardini. “They’re not looking at the criminal charges, the verdict can’t be changed.” A jury convicted cousins Joey and Ethan Parrish last month of involuntary manslaughter and recommended the maximum sentence, 10 years, on the manslaughter conviction, and one year on assault and battery for shooting then 16-year-old Courtney Jones. Joey Parrish will be sentenced by a judge at a later date because he was a minor at the time of offense. Family and friends of Tahliek Taliaferro, along with the NAACP, held marches protesting the jury’s verdict and, moments after the verdict was read, allegations of racism took center stage. Shortly there after, KKK pamphlets were scattered in county driveways. According to Barry, the FBI began the investigation last summer after becoming aware of the case through media coverage and after his office was contacted by the Sheriff’s Office. Editor’s note: This article originally incorrectly referenced Title 18, section 241 as part of the U.S. the Constitution. The error has been corrected above. |
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Friend of Richmond Jul. 20, 2009, 12:30 PM
anonymous, It’s the justice system. The justice system will give you more time for fighting or killing a animal than a human life. Mr. Vick should have been sentence to more time. Peta and all of the dog owners were out their marching for the dogs right. The following week the baby sitter went on trial for setting a dog cage on top of the baby crib. The baby head was caught between the dog cage and crib and the baby died. I didn’t see the same people marching for the baby rights. The baby sitter was sentenced less time than Vick. The last one is Stallworth who was drinking and driving and killed a person. 30 DAYS COME ON JUSTICE SYSTEM. Lets talk about HUMAN RIGHTS AND COMMON SENSE!!!!!
SINCER of ric Jun. 19, 2009, 09:55 PM
THAT TRUELY IS B/S. LIKE I HAVE SAID BEFORE FROM O.J. TO THE PARRISH BOYS AND NOW MR STALLWORTH ALL SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN ALOT MORE THAN WHAT WAS GIVEN TO THEM. AN NO THE NAACP IS NOT GOING TO DO THAT FOR YOU SORRY NOR THE KKK LOL. BUT YOU CAN AND YOU ALREADY HAVE BY DOING POSTING THIS ONLINE. WE ARE GOING TO SEE EVERYTHING EYE TO EYE BUT THIS A START.
anonymous of richmond va Jun. 18, 2009, 10:52 PM
this is rediculous why has stallworth not getting more time 30 days for vehicular manslaughter come on why isnt the fbi not investigating this? where is the naacp at on this and the fbi cause they are one sided the naacp is the one prejiduce that is why they are allways hollering racist things so they can keep things stirred up. all the naacp is after is money
J of Powhatan Jun. 2, 2009, 02:21 AM
JAMES, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THE SAME THAT I DO. YOU HAVE YOUR MIND MADE UP AND THERE IS NO CHANGING YOUR OPINION AND I’M NOT GOING TO TRY. THE STORY THAT IS BEING TOLD OUTSIDE OF THE COURT ROOM IS NOT THE SAME ONE TOLD IN THE COURT ROOM. THERE IS A REASON WHY ETHAN HAD THE GUN WITH HIM AND IT WASN’T TO SHOOT SOMEONE. BESIDES, IT ISN’T AGAINST THE LAW TO OWN OR TRANSPORT A GUN LIKE THIS. LOTS OF PEOPLE IN POWHATAN HAVE AND TRANSPORT GUNS LIKE THIS. I HAVE TALKED WITH FRIENDS OF THE TALIAFERRO FAMILY AND A TALIAFERRO WHO I GRADUATED WITH TO LET THEM KNOW HOW BAD WE FEEL ABOUT TAHLIEK. WE AREN’T RACIST AND KNOW THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. I ALSO KNOW THAT IF THINGS WERE DIFFERENT, AND ETHAN WAS THE ONE WHO WAS SHOT(WHICH COULD HAVE HAPPENED) AND THE EVIDENCE WAS THE SAME AND THEY HAD A JURY WHO COULD LOOK AT EVIDENCE AND TESTIMONY FAIRLY THAT THE VERDICT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SAME. AND YES, WE WOULD BE UPSET AS WELL. BUT IF WE KNEW WHY, AND HOW IT HAPPENED, I MIGHT BE TAKING A DIFFERENT APPROACH ON THINGS. THESE GUYS DID NOT MEAN TO KILL OR HURT ANYONE. I’VE LIVED HERE ALL MY LIFE, HAVE LOTS OF BLACK FRIENDS AND KNOW ALOT OF PEOPLE HERE. WHILE THERE ARE SOME WHO STILL ARE STUCK IN THE PAST(ON BOTH SIDES) AS FAR AS BEING RACIST, THE MAJORITY IS NOT RACIST. THIS IS A GOOD COUNTY AND IS STILL HURTING FROM ALL OF THIS. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF SOMEONE CHASED YOU AND PULLED A GUN OUT AND POINTED IT AT YOU AND ONE OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS. ANSWER THAT HONESTLY.
UNKNOWN of NORTHSIDE RIC Jun. 2, 2009, 12:50 AM
MY PEOPLE HAVE KILLED IN THIS COUNTRY FOR HUNREDS OF YEARS. WHAT MAKES THE PARRISH FAMILY FEEL THAT THE OUT COME IS GOING TO BE EASY. GOING BACK THREW HISTORY YOU WOULD THINK WILLIE LYNCH WAS ON THIS JURY OR WAS THE JUGE IN THIS CASE. NOW YOU GOT THE KKK RUNNIN AROUND DOWN THERE TRYIN TO GET NEW MEMBERS. WE ARE NOT ANIMALS OR SLAVES THIS HAS TO END. I’M UPSET BY THOSE SIDING THE PARRISH BOYS MAKE IT SEEM LIKE MR TALIFERRO JUST GOT A BUMP ON THE HEAD. THIS YOUNG MAN IS GONE FROM THIS EARTH FOREVER. WHY IS IT OKAY BECAUSE HE IS AFRICAN AMERICAN THAT’S JUST SAD. P.S IF YOU ARE READINGS THIS PLEASE LOOKUP THIS ON LINE THE WILLIE LYNCH THEORY AND READ IT WELL. THIS WHAT THEY WERE TOUGHT TO DO FOR HUNREDS OF YEARS.
JAMES of RICHMOMND Jun. 2, 2009, 12:26 AM
TO J: I KNOW THAT IF WAS TO BE RIDING AROUND WITH A AK47 WHAT I HAD ON MY MIND. THERE IS KNOW WAY YOU OR ANYONE ELSE IS GOING TO SAY ANYTHING CHANGE THAT. THE PARRISH BOYS ARE TWO WANT TO BE THUGS THAT SHOULD GET THE 25 TO LIFE OR DEATH IN THE CHAIR. I’M NOT SAYING THIS BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF THERE SKIN. BUT I KNOW THAT IF IT HAD BEEN THE OTHER WAY ARE THAT TIME WOULD HAVE FIT THE CRIME. I DIDN’T LIKE WHEN OJ GOT AWAY WITH MURDER AND I DIDN’T LIKE IT NOW. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED BY ACCIDENT BEFORE AN IT NEVER HAS ENDED LIKE THIS. SOUNDS LIKE YOU NEED SOMEONE TO TAKE YOUR SIDE TO FEEL BETTER WITH WHAT HAPPEN. HAVE YOU TRYED TO SEE HOW THE TALIFERRO FAMILY IS FEELING OR DO YOU JUST SIT THERE HOPING THEY FORGOT THEIR SON IS DEAD AND GONE? ANSWER THAT FOR ME J-FROM POWHATAN
J of Powhatan Jun. 1, 2009, 09:16 PM
JAMES, YOUR RIGHT IN THE FACT THAT IT IS A SHAME THAT A LIFE WAS LOST, AND EVERYONE INCLUDING THE PARRISH’S AND STEPHANIE’S. IT WAS AN ACCIDENT THAT HE WAS SHOT ALONG WITH COURTNEY. BUT THE PARRISH FAMILY TRYING TO RALLY TO APPROACH THE TALIAFERRO FAMILY WOULDN’T GO OVER VERY WELL RIGHT NOW. I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT EVERYONE IN ETHAN’S FAMILY HAS SHED ALOT OF TEARS THAT TAHLIEK IS GONE, I’M NOT SAYING THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS BUT THE FACTS REMAIN THE SAME. THEY DID NOT MEAN TO SHOOT ANYONE. THERE WAS A GUN POINTED AT THEM, THEY DIDN’T KNOW IT WAS A BB GUN, FOR THAT MATTER IT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A REAL GUN. AT THAT POINT, SHOOT OR BE SHOT GOES THROUGH YOUR HEAD AND ETHAN REACTED. NOTHING MORE. HE HAD NEVER SEEN TAHLIEK UNTIL SHEETS. NOTHING CAN CHANGE WHAT HAPPENED BUT WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
JAMES of RIC Jun. 1, 2009, 08:29 PM
TO GLORIA TALIAFERRO: PEOPLE LIKE THAT HAVE MAKE IT SEEM LIKE HE WAS A BAD PERSON. WHY! SO THEY CAN JUSTIFY WHAT TOOK PLACE. STAY STRONG
JAMES of RICHMOMND Jun. 1, 2009, 07:55 PM
THAT MAYBE TRUE BUT HE IS THE ONLY ONE DEAD. WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE IN POWHATAN IS SO WRONG THAT IS WILL HAVE AN EVERLASTING AFFECT ON EVERYONE. I KNOW AT THIS DAY AND AGE IN THE WORLD EVERYONE WISE LIFE WAS EASY. BUT THAT’S NOT HOW THINGS ARE IT’S JUST NOT THAT SIMPLE. THE PEOPLE THAT REALLY KNOW WHAT HAPPEN ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE. BUT NOTHING CAN CHANGE THE FACT A YOUNG MAN LOST HIS LIFE OVER BS. SAYING SORRY IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE THIS. WHAT MAKES ME SO UPSET ABOUT THIS IS HIS FAMILY FOR THE MOST PART HOW THEY ACT LIKE IT IS NO BIG DEAL TO THEM. ON THIS I WILL JUST SAY I KNOW I WOULDN’T HAVE BEENABLE TO HANDLE THIS THE WAY TALIAFERRO FAMILY HAS PEACEFULLY.
J of Powhatan Jun. 1, 2009, 01:35 AM
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Gloria, No one said that Tahliek deserved to die. That is a terrible thing. No one in the Parrish fanily thinks that Tahliek deserved to die. But I for one think that Ethan, Joey, and Stephanie aren’t the only people at fault here. I feel that BOTH PARTIES are to blame. Also, lots of people knew about the problems with Joey and Tahliek, why wasn’t something done to prevent this? Whether it be parents, police, school, SOMEONE!! I tell you what, I hope everyone involved has learned that guns are not toys, they aren’t to scare or intimidate THEY KILL. And second, if you know someone with a problem with another no matter what size shape or color, do something to peacefully resolve it so no one else has to bury a loved one or see their loved ones behind bars for any length of time. Submit Your Comments Below
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