By By Suzanne Monk/The Meridian Star
Aug. 29, 2001
A Meridian man arrested in the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Thomas Anderson has entered a petition to plead guilty to manslaughter in Lauderdale County Circuit Court.
Willie A. Parnell was charged with murder shortly after the Aug. 22, 2000, shooting and has been held on $50,000 bond since that time as he awaited trial.
Parnell's plea petition was filed Tuesday.
The shooting occurred at Highway Village Apartments on Front Street Extension. A police spokesman said the two men began fighting the day before, and that the confrontation escalated as it carried over into the next day.
Detective Dean Harper said Anderson was shot in the chest near the south side of Building D, then ran to the north side of the building and collapsed. He was transported to Riley Hospital, where he died 30 minutes later.
Parnell had fled the scene.
A hearing to receive Parnell's plea has not yet been scheduled. Parnell could receive a prison sentence of up to 20 years.
Suzanne Monk is managing editor of The Meridian Star. Call her at 693-1551, ext. 3229, or e-mail her at smonk@themeridianstar.com. Staff writer Marianne Todd contributed to this report.