NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — A Buffalo man pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge in connection to the death that happened in January of 2023 in Niagara Falls.
Dennis D. Parson, 20, entered the guilty plea Thursday afternoon in Niagara County Court. Parson admitted to shooting and killing 24-year-old Jaylan McWison on Jan. 21, 2023, in front of McWilson’s Niagara Falls home.
"The motive appeared to be a robbery gone wrong," Niagara County prosecutors said in a statement Thursday.
Back in January of 2023, Parson had been charged with one count of second-degree murder and one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He faces up to 25 years in prison when he's sentenced on Oct. 15.
“There was absolutely no reason for this incident to have ended in the loss of Jaylan’s life. His family is devastated. The defendant is a young man who will now spend the next 20 or more years in prison. For what? A completely senseless loss of life,” Niagara County District Attorney Brian D. Seaman said in a statement.
Niagara Falls Police said McWilson was shot outside his family home around 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 21, 2023, at the corner of Lockport Street and South Avenue. Investigators had told 2 On Your Side that they did not believe McWilson's death was a random act.
"I would hesitate to go as far as a motive but I don't consider it a random act I believe the suspect knew the victim," John Conti, captain of the Niagara Falls Police Criminal Investigation Division, said at the time.