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Suspect in trooper’s killing faces another murder charge

Chauncy Askew

By DEUCE NIVEN

tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com

     Already facing a death penalty trial for the murder of a state trooper last fall, Chauncy Askew has been indicted on an unrelated murder near Tabor City.

     Askew, 18, has been indicted by a Columbus County grand jury in the June 21, 2016 murder of Jerome Parrott, District Attorney Jon David said in a news release.

     Askew appeared before Superior Court Judge Frank Jones in Whiteville Thursday morning, and was ordered held without bond. Kevin Peters was appointed to represent Askew on the charge.

     Parrott, who was 39 and living on Lester Watts Road, Tabor City, was shot once in the head inside a pool room in the Green Acres subdivision east of Tabor City, an assistant coroner said following the 2016 slaying. Parrott’s body was found inside a large room that contained two pool tables.

     Askew is already in jail, charged with murder in the Oct. 16, 2018 slaying of North Carolina State Highway Patrol Trooper Kevin Conner, who was shot as he approached a truck on US 701 in the Sellerstown community. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in that case.

     Because Askew was younger than 18 at the time Parrott was killed, he is not eligible for the death penalty in that case, David said.

     Look for more on this story in the next Tabor-Loris Tribune in print and online.