According to the 11th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, a man from the Midlands has pleaded guilty to shooting his ex-girlfriend and will now be spending several decades in a prison of the South Carolina Department of Corrections.
A news release from the solicitor’s office announced that Parris D’Shawn Sutton, a 27-year-old resident of Gaston, has been sentenced to 28 years in prison.
According to the release, Sutton pleaded guilty to charges of attempted murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime on January 8.
Sutton has been sentenced to 23 years for the attempted murder conviction, followed by a 5-year sentence for the weapons charge. The sentences will be served consecutively, according to the solicitor’s office.
Under South Carolina law, the charge of attempted murder is considered a violent offense that carries a “no parole” designation.
In September 17, 2022, Sutton visited a residence on Edmund Highway in the Gaston area of Lexington County after discovering that his ex-girlfriend was present, as stated by the solicitor’s office. Prior to this incident, Sutton had sent a threatening text to his ex-girlfriend, expressing his intention to harm her due to his belief that she was involved with another man.
There were no other reported injuries.
According to the release, Sutton did not stop firing even after his gun malfunctioned. The solicitor’s office revealed that as a consequence of the shooting, the victim has been left paralyzed.
According to the release, Sutton was apprehended approximately a month later in Charleston, where the victim was receiving medical care for her injuries.
The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department uncovered messages sent by Sutton after the shooting during their investigation, according to the solicitor’s office.
Sutton explained in a message that the reason for his actions was the sneaky behavior of the person involved.
In retrospect, he admitted to experiencing a momentary lapse of consciousness, describing it as “blanking out.” He went on to express his relief that the situation had not escalated further, acknowledging that things could have taken a dangerous turn if the gun had not malfunctioned. Reflecting on the incident, he shared, “I just kept pulling the trigger.”
The victim, who is now dependent on a wheelchair for mobility because of her paralysis, spoke directly to the court during the sentencing. She bravely shared the profound impact the shooting has had on her life, emphasizing that it has forever altered her existence.
Senior Assistant Solicitor Sutania Fuller spearheaded the prosecution, according to the court records of Lexington County. James Snell Jr. served as Sutton’s attorney during the legal proceedings.
The case did not involve any plea negotiations.
According to court records, Sutton served a year in prison after pleading guilty to a weapons charge in 2020.
