Thoughts on the Parrish cousins conviction?

Technically this is Powhatan and thus somewhat out of our “territory,” but it’s worthy of discussion, I feel. Some of you may not be familiar with this whole story, so here’s some background info: June 24, 2008, Powhatan High School athlete Tahliek Taliaferro and a group of his friends get in a confrontation with classmates […]

March 24, 2009; 10:46 AM • by Valerie Catrow

Technically this is Powhatan and thus somewhat out of our “territory,” but it’s worthy of discussion, I feel.

Some of you may not be familiar with this whole story, so here’s some background info:

June 24, 2008, Powhatan High School athlete Tahliek Taliaferro and a group of his friends get in a confrontation with classmates Ethan Parrish, Joseph Parrish, and Stephanie Reynolds at a local hangout.
Joseph Parrish tells Taliaferro and company, “If you want to fight, follow us.” Reynolds is driving.
Taliaferro and two carloads of friends follow them.
Ethan Parrish orders Stephanie Reynolds to pull over and attaches an 83-round clip to an semi-automatic assault rifle, but “assumes Taliaferro and the others would drive by.”
Ethan Parrish mistakes a BB gun brandished by one of the passengers as a real weapon and opens fire on the passing car.
Taliaferro is shot and killed.
Both Parrishes are charged with first degree murder for the killing.
March 23, 2009, jurors find the Parrishes guilty of involuntary manslaughter.

Here are some links to the TD’s coverage on this: 1, 2, 3

Granted, we didn’t witness the trial and we don’t know what went down in during the deliberations, but going from first degree murder to involuntary manslaughter is a pretty big jump.

Anyone have thoughts on this?