By Hannah Curran, Editor
BIRMINGHAM — Steven Chase Lafoy pleaded guilty to the felony murder of 18-year-old Trent Thomas Parkerson on Monday, May 9, at 9:47 a.m.
Trent Parkerson.
Lafoy accepted the State of Alabama’s offer of felony murder, and Judge Shanta C. Owens sentenced Lafoy to 25 years in the Alabama Department of Corrections. Owens said this is a straight sentence, and Lafoy is to receive all credit for time served.
He was represented by Antony Emory and Maston Evans. Before sentencing, Emory said Lafoy would continue with the guilty plea even though neither he nor Evans could promise when Lafoy would come up for parole because it was not a part of the plea deal.
State attorney, Julie McMakin, said that on April 1, 2020, in the 7600 block of Happy Hollow Road in Trussville, Lafoy, who was 17 at the time of the murder, discharged a firearm into an occupied vehicle resulting in the death of Parkerson.
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In a previous interview, Trussville Police detectives said Lafoy and Parkerson, who were friends, got into a physical altercation over a theft that had occurred. They believe Parkerson attempted to leave around 3:30 a.m. when he was shot with a rifle while inside his locked vehicle. Lafoy called 911 and reported the shooting. Parkerson was pronounced dead at the scene.
Both teens were students at Hewitt-Trussville High School, and they were also teammates on the varsity football team. Parkerson was a senior defensive end for the Hewitt-Trussville football team, and he was also a member of the varsity wrestling team.
Lafoy was given a bond for the capital murder charge in April 2020 and posted a $500,000 property bond to be released from the Jefferson County Jail. However, Lafoy’s bond was revoked after he was arrested for possession of marijuana on November 11, 2020. He has remained in jail since. According to prosecutors, Lafoy and a female passenger were in a car parked near First Baptist Church Trussville. The officer reported finding marijuana inside the vehicle. Lafoy was taken into custody, and the female was released to her parents, according to court documents.
Related Story: Bond revoked for Trussville teen charged with capital murder
A preliminary hearing was held on September 30, 2020, and the judge in the case ordered the case to the Circuit Court to await the action of the Grand Jury.
Lafoy was indicted on a capital murder charge on March 12, 2021. Then on June 24, 2021, Owens signed an order for a Youthful Offender Status application and hearing on August 31, 2021.
Youthful Offender Status can mean a person under 21 could get a lesser sentence, and a criminal charge could be hidden from record.
Related Story: Trussville teen charged with capital murder seeking youthful offender status
After being sentenced, Lafoy turned to Parkerson’s family members and asked for forgiveness.
“I’m sorry, and I hope you can learn to forgive me,” Lafoy said.
Emory explained that it was a sad situation for both families.
“One young man has lost his life because of the shooting, and another young man lost 25 years of his life,” Emory said. “It’s just a sad situation, but my client, accepted responsibility and then apologized and family.”
