Petition to Deny Parole for Cop Killer Thomas Desherlia

Deputy Marshal Parker was shot after responding to a report of a man driving over a bulkhead at the St. Augustine Beach pier. Upon arrival to the pier he was directed to a nearby hotel where witnesses said the driver had gone.

He arrived at the hotel and made contact with the subject. He obtained the man's identification and directed him to come back to the patrol car so he could drive him back to the location of where the car drove off the pier. As the man got into the passenger door he suddenly pulled out a handgun and opened fire, striking Deputy Marshal Parker in the neck. Despite being mortally wounded, Deputy Marshal Parker was able to pull the patrol car around the hotel. The suspect returned to the scene moments later, pulled Deputy Marshal Parker from the vehicle and then drove away in the patrol car.

Unbeknownst to Deputy Marshal Parker, the suspect was wanted for a bank robbery in Iowa and a double murder of security officers in Alabama. The man had inadvertently given Deputy Marshal Parker his real identification and opened fire when he realized that his identity would be revealed.