TACOMA, WA – On June 7 Dakota Collins, 16, was arraigned on a charge of Murder in the First Degree. The court set bail in the amount of $1 million Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist filed charges on May 31, 2016 against seven defendants in the murder of Lorenzo Parks.
“We have six in custody with one to go,” said Prosecutor Lindquist. “Anyone with information on the seventh defendant, James Mapp, should contact law enforcement or Crime Stoppers.”
On May 18, 2016, Pierce County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call in the area near Pacific Avenue and S. 127th Street in Parkland. Upon arrival, deputies found Lorenzo Parks lying on the ground in front of an auto parts store in a pool of blood, deceased.
A witness reported seeing a group of young people “harassing” Lorenzo Parks. During the altercation, one of the defendants pointed a gun at Parks. That gunman is believed to be Collins, who was arraigned today. Several photos of the group were posted to social media that night, one of which shows Collins with the handle of a pistol in his pants. The group asked Parks to give them everything in his pockets. Parks turned out his pockets, showing that he had nothing. At some point during the interaction, Collins fired. Lorenzo Parks died from the gunshot wound. Sheriff’s deputies arrested Collins early in the morning on June 6, 2016 at a hotel on Hosmer Street in Tacoma.
Six of the seven defendants charged in the shooting of Lorenzo Parks are now in custody. Lonnie Brantley, Jr., 19, and Jamar Jones, 20, were arraigned on May 31, 2016 and held on bail of $500,000. Khiry Baylis, 16; Dasjon Robinson, 16; and Rasjon Robinson, 16, were arrested later and arraigned on June 3, 2016. They are each held on bail of $1 million. One of the defendants, James Mapp, 16, remains at large. If you have any information as to his whereabouts, please contact law enforcement or Crime Stoppers. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for any information leading to the arrest of James Mapp.
Because of the seriousness of the charges, the defendants will be prosecuted as adults per Washington State law. Charges are only allegations and a person is presumed innocent unless he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
