On Monday 22 April 2024, at approximately 11:15 p.m., Tipton County Deputies were dispatched to the area of Billings Dr and McGowan Dr, in south east Tipton County, in regard to a young male that was beating on neighborhood doors requesting help after he had been shot.
Upon arrival, deputies located a wounded juvenile that stated a male was in his home at 143 McGowan and the male had shot him.
The juvenile stated his mother was still in the home with the male and her condition was unknown.
Deputies quickly surrounded the residence and could observe the male suspect moving about the home and eventually were able to establish communication with him through the front door.
The suspect refused to exit the home and was still believed to be armed.
A phone connection was established with the suspect and after approximately 45 minutes of negotiations, the suspect surrendered and exited the home where he was taken into custody.
Deputies could not make contact with the female and upon entering the home found the female deceased from an apparent gun shot wound.
The deceased victim has been identified as Kristen Johnson (44) of 143 McGowan Dr. The suspect has been identified as Donald Ray Parker, Jr. (52) of 1179 Linden Ave. in Memphis.
Parker has confessed to his actions and is formally being charged with First Degree Murder, Attempted First Degree Murder and Aggravated Stalking. He will have a bond hearing later today.
“This is a very sad and awful situation”, said Sheriff Shannon Beasley. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to Ms. Johnson’s family and especially her son as he mourns the loss of his mother and recovers from his own wounds. Ray Parker will now answer for his actions and I hope he has the rest of his life in prison to think about the decisons he has made that has forever changed this family. I want to commend our deputies for their repsonse and handling of this volatile situation and negotiating the suspect out of the home and the diligent work our detectives did in processing this scene”.
