Argument between neighbors results in death of Beloit man

Published 9:30 pm Thursday, September 3, 2015

A late night argument between neighbors in Beloit left one man dead after succumbing to a gunshot wound to the head.

According to Dallas County Sheriff Harris Huffman, 50-year-old Nathan Parker was pronounced dead Thursday afternoon between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.

“About 9:30 last night we were dispatched to County Road 947 in Beloit to Stephen Williams’ residence,” Huffman said. “Once the deputies got there, we found an individual by the name of Nathan Parker shot once in the head.”

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According to Huffman, Parker and the shooter, 42-year-old Steven Williams, lived next door to one another.

“From what our investigation shows so far … Mr. Parker went to Mr. Williams’ house, and some type of argument happened, and Mr. Parker pulled a gun on Mr. Williams,” Huffman said.

Huffman said Williams is a paraplegic and was in a wheelchair when the argument happened.

“My understanding is Mr. Parker actually grabbed Mr. Williams by his collar and pulled a gun. This is coming from Mr. Williams,” Huffman said.

“I do not believe there was anybody else in the house. Mr. Parker was only hit one time, and he was hit as Mr. Williams was falling out of the wheelchair onto the floor.”

Investigators believe Parker’s gun jammed when he tried to shoot Williams. Both weapons were handguns, according to Huffman.

“He was transported by ambulance to the Vaughan Regional Medical Center and then airlifted to Montgomery,” Huffman said. “He was on life support, and I’m thinking somewhere between 3-4 p.m. he passed.”

No arrest has been made, but Huffman said charges could be pending depending on the investigation. Williams could face a murder charge.

“Reason being is that we’re still doing our investigation. Mr. Williams was in his own house in his wheelchair, and Mr. Parker went to Mr. Williams’ house,” Huffman said.

“I can’t tell you what the argument was about because I don’t know. Investigators have been working on that pretty much all day.”

Huffman said investigators are still gathering evidence to present to Dallas County District Attorney Michael Jackson.

“What we’ll probably do is more than likely get all of the evidence that we can gather, present it to the district attorney and then either go with an arrest warrant or present it to a grand jury,” Huffman said.

According to court records, Parker was out on bond for attempted murder for a Dec. 2014 shooting at Teamwork Barber Shop on J.L. Chestnut Jr. Boulevard.

Parker allegedly shot a barber in his 40s.