ST. LUCIE COUNTY — A man convicted following a deadly shooting at a 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration was sentenced May 19 to life in prison.
Kemmye Parson, 31, found guilty Feb. 27 of attempted first-degree murder with a firearm, discharging a firearm; second-degree felony murder; and possession of a firearm by a felon, was sentenced in a morning proceeding in Circuit Judge Michael Heisey’s courtroom.
Nikkitia Bryant, 29, died after being shot at the celebratory event at Ilous Ellis Park on Avenue M, and gunfire injured seven others. Officials have said around 1,000 people were at the family event, which featured a car show and food trucks.
According to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, about 50 cartridge casings of at least three different calibers were recovered.
Assistant State Attorney Brian Workman has said based on the investigation and work by the crime lab, it was determined at least eight guns were fired.
Parson, however, was not accused of firing bullets that struck Bryant.
“All these people from the community went to that park and were celebrating, and in the middle of that, Kemmye Parson drew a gun and aimed it at someone and opened fire,” Workman said. “And when he did, several other people drew their guns and returned fire, and in the process of that, Nikkitia Bryant was struck and sustained injuries that killed her the following day after she had been treated at Lawnwood (hospital).”
Workman has said Parson is responsible for second-degree felony murder. Parson was in the process of committing a felony (attempted first-degree murder) when someone else shot and killed Bryant.
Two projectiles were removed from Bryant, whose daughter was with her at the time of the shooting, records show.
As proceedings concluded in Heisey’s courtroom, a loud altercation broke out in the hallway outside court apparently involving those in court to support Bryant’s family and those to support Parson’s family.
Bailiffs rushed out of the courtroom in efforts to take control of the boisterous situation.
(This story was updated with a photo gallery, video, and more information.)
Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Gunman sentenced after deadly MLK day shooting in Florida
Reporting by Will Greenlee, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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