By Michael Copley
Staff Writer

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.