Life Sentence for Murder in Austell Over Parking Space

Credit: Cobb County Sheriff’s Office

A Powder Springs man will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing a man in the aftermath of a dispute over a parking space, the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office announced Friday.

Harold Antonio Parks, 42, was convicted on Friday by a Cobb County jury on one count of malice murder, two counts of felony murder, aggravated assault, and firearms possession charges, the DA said. Judge Henry Thomspon sentenced Parks to spend the rest of his life in prison and was given no change of parole, the DA announced.

“This was a senseless and vicious crime perpetrated by a violent repeat offender,” Deputy Chief ADA Jesse Evans said in a statement. “I am pleased that the jury was able to bring justice to Terrance Washington’s family.”

Parks shot and killed Terrence Washington, Jr. on the morning of Sept. 16, 2013, following an argument between Parks, Washington, and Washington’s girlfriend. According to the DA, the argument began when Parks accosted Washington’s girlfriend over leaving her car parked in a specific space overnight. Washington soon came outside to defend his girlfriend, and the situation defused.

After the argument, Parks went back into his apartment, retrieved a 9-millimeter handgun and shot Washington 18 times as he was walking back inside. Parks disappeared for three months but was eventually arrested by police. He has remained behind bars since his arrest, the DA said.

According to the DA, Parks’ murder trial began on Monday.