NEWPORT NEWS — Police here have arrested a 25-year-old local man in connection with last week’s shooting death of a woman.
Markeis Lamar Parks was booked into the Newport News Jail charged with first-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and obstruction of justice.
He is being held without bond.
Police said Parks shot 20-year-old Breonna T. Patterson of Newport News to death Aug. 29. Authorities said Parks was “known to the victim.”
But he said he didn’t do it. Parks talked to the media Wednesday afternoon in jail.
Parks said the night Patterson was killed, he was at home smoking weed with “his girl.”
He said he was “shocked” when police went to his home on Tuesday.
“What he saying ain’t true,” Parks said, pointing to the arresting officer. “He know I ain’t do it.”
Parks claims that since Friday, police have knocked on his grandmother’s home and his mother’s home and spent the rest of the time leading up to his arrest patrolling outside his house.
When asked about his relationship with Patterson, Parks only said “everybody knew her” and that “she was a cool girl.”
Parks said he read about the incident on Facebook.
“I’m sorry for what happened to her,” he said.
He insisted he was being set up.
“I ain’t about to lose my life to something I ain’t even do,” he said.
He said he is not a violent man, asking “is smoking weed violent?”
Newport News Police Chief declined to comment about Parks’ assertion.
The incident, the arrest
Officers were called to the 100 block of Mytilene Drive at 3:59 a.m. Aug. 29 in reference to gunshots heard in the area.
“Upon the arrival of police personnel, they checked the interior of a residence and located a black female suffering from multiple gunshot wounds,” said Sgt. Randal Bailey. “The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene by medics.”
The woman was later identified as Patterson.
Detectives identified Parks “after an extensive investigation and community assistance,” police wrote in a news release.
After confirming where Parks was staying, police sent their Tactical Operations Unit to the 1500 block of Briarfield Road in Hampton Tuesday night.
Parks surrendered “after more than seven hours of surveillance and negotiations,” police said.
