TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Slaying Suspect Is Likely In Jamaica

ADVERTISEMENT

By RAY REYES

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 29, 2008

LAKELAND - The man wanted in connection with a triple slaying at an Auburndale bar and music venue early Saturday morning has fled to another country, Polk County sheriff's detectives said.

An arrest warrant was issued for Davion Parson, 19, of 3116 Justine Ave. The warrant accusing Parson of murder was announced at 12:35 p.m. Wednesday, when Polk Sheriff Grady Judd identified him as the suspect in the killings.

After the fatal shootings, Parson's mother paid for his cab fare from Lakeland to Orlando International Airport, investigators said. There, he booked a flight to Miami, and on Sunday, flew from Miami to Montego Bay, Jamaica, authorities said.

Authorities in Jamaica have been contacted and are assisting in the investigation, Judd said in a news conference Wednesday.

Parson is wanted in the slayings of two Bay area disc jockeys and another man who was with them at a show inside the Thunderbird bar.

Antone Neely and Michael Rattigan made up the DJ duo that worked for Poison Dart, a company owned by Richard "Kirky-C" Salmon.

"We believe that this brutal crime was committed in retaliation of an incident that occurred May 10," Judd said.

The sheriff gave this account of what happened that night:

A birthday party for Dwight Earle was being held at the Thunderbird, 723 New Hope St., Auburndale. Rattigan was acting as a DJ at the bar. Parson was at the party with Deneil Campbell, Vishwanzth Williams and Marvin Chisholm.

Earle was on stage, along with Rattigan, when Campbell asked for the microphone to sing a song. Earle gave him the microphone and after a few minutes, tried to take it back.

Earle and Campbell began to argue and scuffle, and Campbell's friends joined the fray. During the fight, Campbell was stabbed in the buttocks. When the fight moved outside, Rattigan fired several rounds from a handgun into the air to break up the crowd.

Deputies responded to a call of shots fired at the bar at 3:07 a.m. May 10, but found no witnesses to the reported shooting. Campbell did not tell deputies he was stabbed.

During the investigation into the triple slaying, detectives learned that Parson was upset about the May 10 incident and said he was going to kill the people who stabbed his friend, Judd said.

At 2:40 a.m. Saturday, deputies were called to the Thunderbird and found "complete chaos with people fleeing the bar," Judd said. The first deputy to arrive heard about five gunshots.

Earle hid in the bathroom, detectives said. Neely and Webster were shot and died at the scene. Rattigan was shot in the back and taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Parson fled and later called his friends, bragging about the shooting, detectives said.

The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Polk County Sheriff's Office at (863) 534-6379 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS.

Reporter Billy Townsend contributed to this report. Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at rreyes@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7920.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT