Cleveland Man Sentenced For Shooting UPS Driver

CLEVELAND — A Cleveland man has been sentenced to two decades in prison after he pleaded guilty to shooting a UPS driver. The driver survived the attack despite being wounded in the head, chest, wrist, leg and foot, prosecutors said.

Joel Parker, 42, was sentenced to a range of 20 to 25 years in prison for the shooting, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O'Malley said. Parker pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated robbery, felonious assault and having weapons under disability.

“This was a wholly unprovoked, cold-blooded attack upon a man simply trying to do his job,” said O’Malley. “This long prison sentence is rightfully deserved.”

On Oct. 1, 2019, Parker saw a UPS driver near E. 55th Street and Scovill Avenue. Parker pulled out a shotgun and aimed it at the driver before demanding money.

The driver handed over cash, but Parker demanded more. The driver tried to lock himself inside his UPS truck and call 911, but Parker fired into the truck. The driver was hit in the head, chest, wrist, leg and foot.

Parker then threatened to shoot again if the man didn't let him into the truck. The driver opened the door and handed Parker more cash and Parker ran off.

The UPS driver was rushed into emergency trauma care.

Cleveland police arrested Parker at his apartment within minutes of the shooting, prosecutors said. Officers found a shotgun and stolen money soaked in blood inside the dwelling.