By Roslyn Ryan
Editor

The community learned more details today about the June 24 shooting that claimed the life of 18-year-old Powhatan High School student Tahliek Taliaferro and seriously injured another teen.

The three Powhatan residents charged in the murder, Ethan Parrish, 24, Joseph Parrish, 17, and Stephanie Reynolds, 19, appeared today in Powhatan General District Court where the case was certified for the grand jury that will convene in October.

Reynolds testified during the proceedings that she and the Parrish cousins had been drinking and using acid in the hours before the shooting, which allegedly occurred after a brief verbal altercation at Sheetz convenience store in Flat Rock.

According to testimony, the two suspects and the victims traveled a brief distance down Dorset Road before resuming the argument. Reynolds testified that, once the two vehicles were parked near the intersection of Schroeder Road and Dorset Road, Ethan Parrish brandished an assault rifle and fired at Taliaferro.

The court also heard testimony that confirmed a rumor that had surfaced just days after the shooting, that there had also been a weapon in the victims’ vehicle. Deputy Ronald Gatti of the Powhatan Sheriff’s Office, who was the first officer to arrive at the scene, testified that he saw a BB gun pistol at Taliaferro’s feet.

According to previous statements from Powhatan Sherriff Greg Neal, Taliaferro died on the scene from a single gunshot wound to the head. The second victim, Courtney Jones, 15, suffered a gunshot wound to the back and was released from the hospital a few weeks after the shooting.

Both Parrishes and Reynolds are charged with first degree murder, aggravated malicious wounding, the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and attempted murder.

The attempted murder charges stem from the fact that two other passengers were in the car with Taliaferro and Jones.

Please continue to check back with Powhatan Today for updates on this story. A full recap of today’s court proceeding will be printed in next week’s Powhatan Today.

Related Story From InRich.com:
Details emerge in teen’s slaying - Both sides give accounts of what lead to shooting of Tahliek Taliaferro