Fort Wayne man sentenced to 50 years in prison on first anniversary of fatal 2023 shooting

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) - A 24-year-old Fort Wayne man was sentenced Friday to 50 years in prison for murder on the first anniversary of a fatal 2023 shooting.

BACKGROUND: Man arrested in connection with fatal shooting at Villa Capri Apartments

Joshua Parrish fatally shot 31-year-old Antonio Cortez Harris lastDec. 6, 2023 at the Villa Capri Apartments. Court records show Parrish’s sister pointed to him as the man who killed the man she was living with.

Parrish pleaded guilty to murder in the case in exchange for a 50-year sentence and a sentencing enhancement against him being dismissed.

COURT DOCS: Sister points to brother as suspect in fatal Villa Capri shooting

After first telling police she knew nothing about the incident. Parrish’s sister said she witnessed the deadly shooting after her brother came to the apartment asking if everything was OK.

Harris and Parrish stepped outside to talk, with Parrish’s sister eventually following them out to find the defendant holding a gun, court records show. The woman said she pleaded with her brother, telling him everything was OK.

“This could go one of two ways,” Parrish said while raising his gun.

Parrish then shot Harris twice, walked closer to him, and fired another round, court records show. Parrish’s sister said he then raised the gun toward her before fleeing.

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