Judge deliberating in case of Stroudsburg man charged in 2021 fatal shooting in Poconos

The bench trial of Tyrone Parson is heading to the judge’s deliberation after both sides rested their case on Monday.

Parson, who turned 23 on the first day of the trial , is facing a criminal homicide charge in the shooting death of 19-year-old Jaheem Alston in Middle Smithfield Township in October 2021.

Continuing from Thursday, more audio of Parson’s interview with Pennsylvania State Police troopers was played in court. (There was a break in the trial on Friday.)

During his interview with state troopers, Parson initially denied knowing Alston. Once he admitted to knowing Alston, he stated that he drove alone to Alston’s property in his own car, as opposed to being driven by Kellie Nelson in her car.

Troopers were suggesting to Parson that he confess to shooting Alston on the basis of defending himself, as opposed to shooting him in cold blood. Parson then alleged to troopers that Alston had a knife. He told them he eventually discarded the gun across the highway.

During cross-examination, Parson's attorney, Brian Perry, asked Cpl. Brian Noll, who was one of the officers who interviewed Parson, if he “went to bat” for Parson after Noll said he would if he confessed to shooting Alston. Noll answered no.

Perry also inquired if Noll asked Parson if he had any drugs or alcohol before the interview. Noll said that Parson did not seem like he had.

After Noll’s testimony, Monroe County District Attorney Michael Mancuso rested his case.

After Judge Margherita Patti-Worthington advised Parson of his right to remain silent or testify during his trial, the defense called four character witnesses to the stand.

Within a 10-minute span, all of them testified that Parson was a peaceful, non-violent person. Two witnesses were close friends of Parson’s mom and knew him at a young age, one was his great-aunt and another babysat Parson.

Mancuso did not cross-examine any of the defense’s witnesses.

Perry rested his case after the last character witness testified.

In closing, Perry called the shooting a tragedy that should have never happened, and reaffirmed, as he said in his opening statement, that this should be a manslaughter or third-degree murder case instead of a first-degree murder case.

He also reaffirmed that Parson's drug abuse rendered him unable to form intent to kill Alston and argued that it would not make much sense for Parson to kill Alston in cold blood in front of a witness.

Mancuso, in closing, said that the case was not pleasant, and argued that Parson being voluntarily intoxicated invalidates any affirmative defense. He also noted that there is no time limit to premeditate a shooting according to the first-degree murder statute.

He also pointed out that Alston, who was unarmed and wearing glasses and untied shoes when he met with Parson, did not seem like he was in any condition to attack. He noted the times Parson was dishonest with police and experts who interviewed him, that he shot multiple bullets at Alston even when he started to run away from Parson, and that he moved on with his night after the shooting.

Judge Patti-Worthington will now deliberate, by herself, to reach a verdict. Once she is ready, she will contact Mancuso and Perry to set up a date to render the verdict.

Max Augugliaro is the public safety and government watchdog reporter at the Pocono Record. Reach him at MAugugliaro@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Judge deliberating in case of Stroudsburg man charged in 2021 fatal shooting in Poconos