Man fatally shot during argument over best method to grow marijuana

SURGOINSVILLE — Hawkins County investigators say an alcohol fueled argument over marijuana growing techniques preceded a shooting early Friday morning that left one man dead and another charged with second-degree murder.

About 2:45 a.m. Friday, deputies were called to a shooting complaint at the residence of Gary Wayne Parker, 55, 2256 Carters Valley Road, Surgoinsville.

Upon their arrival, deputies found Randy J. Armstrong, 53, 1715 Carters Valley Road, Surgoinsville, on the floor with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Gary Wayne Parker
Armstrong was transported to Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport, where he later died.

Hawkins County Sheriff Ronnie Lawson said it was Parker’s wife who called 911 to report the shooting, and a .380-caliber handgun was recovered at the Parker residence.

Investigators learned that Parker and Armstrong were old friends, and that Armstrong stopped by the Parker residence sometime the previous night.
The two reportedly hadn’t seen each other for three or four years and began drinking Thursday night. Beer and liquor, as well as a small amount of marijuana, were allegedly found at the Parker residence.

At some point during their reunion, Parker and Armstrong began looking up marijuana growing techniques on the Internet, and subsequently the two began to argue about that subject, Lawson said.

Lawson said he doesn’t know specifically what the disagreement was about.
Parker allegedly told investigators he told Armstrong to leave, and when Armstrong refused to leave he shot him. Lawson added that Parker is claiming self-defense.

Parker was home when deputies arrived, and Lawson said he wasn’t injured at that time. Lawson said evidence at the scene didn’t back Parker’s self-defense claim.

Parker does, however, appear injured and bloody from his jail intake photo. Parker was initially held for questioning, but Lawson said he was too intoxicated to give a statement.

Lawson said Parker was alone in a holding area when he fell and injured himself.

“He didn’t get injured from a fight,” Lawson said. “He was intoxicated, and he fell face forward into the concrete at the jail.”

Parker was taken to Hawkins County Memorial Hospital, where he received stitches, and wasn’t able to give a statement until Friday afternoon.

Parker is charged with second degree murder and as of Friday afternoon was being held without bond.

Parker has 10 previous arrests in Hawkins County dating back to 1999 on charges including DUI, public intoxication and failure to appear, but Lawson said this was his first serious felony charge.

No arraignment date had been set as of Friday afternoon, but Lawson said his arraignment will likely be Monday morning in sessions court.

By Jeff Bobo

 

well that's alcohol for ya.

 

Think he really biffed on the concrete?

 

Surely shooting dead the opposing witness is an extreme but effective way to end an argument.

 

....and has been practiced by many through the centuries without the aid of any alchohol or drugs and with....in large groupings and small. in fact, some have been lauded for the very act. vlad the impaler comes to mind, along with a host of others.

i'm still wondering, 'what was the problem they called the cops? guy musta bled on her rug.'.

 

Pretty sad, I wonder if the guy that shot him regrets it. Though he probably will once he winds up in jail.

 

That's how I usually end my arguments. What's the problem?

 

lmao I'm sure the same woulda happened at a few of my friends places if they had a gun during their WHICH STONER KNOWS MORE rumbles

 

LMAO! I know exactly what you mean.

 

Fucking stupid
The best technique to do only nature knows.
Dumbasses

 

...only nature knows...

lol

now, please, rethink what you just said.

 

evidently, nature knows how to get rid of dumbasses....they get shot over arguments with other dumbasses. the one who lived, well, one might think man was as intelligent as nature....but that is not so true. we'll feed and house the f'er for who knows how long. duh.