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'My child is in a grave': Mother speaks out after 4th arrest made in deadly Hillsborough shooting

A fourth person was arrested Thursday on charges related to a fatal shooting that occurred on Sept. 13, 2023, in Hillsborough. The victim's mother spoke with WRAL News on Sunday following the arrest.

Posted Updated

By
Lora Lavigne
, WRAL Durham reporter
HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. — A fourth person was arrested Thursday on charges related to a fatal shooting that occurred Sept. 13, 2023, in Hillsborough.

Police said the fourth arrest involves a person who was 17 years old at the time of the shooting.

Hillsborough police initially arrested another 17-year-old two weeks after the shooting occurred. In October, two additional people were arrested in connection with the shooting.

Cailee Azariah Parker, 20, of Durham was killed, and an 18-year-old Hillsborough woman was injured in the shooting on West Orange Street.

Parker's mother, Toshauna Parker, used to talk to her son everyday until she got the worst call of her life on Sept. 13.

"I think people need to be reminded that what happened to my son should have never happened," she said. "He was not just a random person, he mattered to the community. He mattered to us."

Toshauna said she is aware that a fourth person has been charged in connection to the murder, but she said it still hurts.

"They are sitting in a jail cell, and my child is in a grave," she said.

The 17-year-old's name cannot be released at this time. Hillsborough officers made the arrest Thursday afternoon. The person was charged with:

  • Aiding and abetting first-degree murder
  • Aiding and abetting assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury
  • Robbery with a dangerous weapon
  • Conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon

"At this point, all of the offenders from this case are in custody," said Sgt. Will Felts, who is leading the investigation.

Toshauna Parker said the last four months have been excruciating for her and her own pain.

"My husband and I did everything right, you know? And death and mishaps still came up on our doorstep," she said.

Despite her loss, she continues to fight to keep her son's name alive, and to make sure the teens accused of killing her son wont get off easy because of their age.

"Since my son can no longer speak for himself, I am his voice," Toshauna Parker said.

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