Grand Jury Indictment for First-Degree Murder

Today State Attorney Amira Fox convened the Lee County Grand Jury and they have returned an indictment against Courtney Jaurez Parchman for First-Degree Murder, Robbery, and Tampering with Evidence. The crime involved a security guard being shot and killed during a robbery at the Royal Jacks Arcade in North Fort Myers, in the early morning hours of June 1, 2024.

Today’s Grand Jury Indictment reads in part:

Count I First-Degree Murder: On or about June 1, 2024, in Lee County, Florida, the defendant did unlawfully from a premeditated design to effect the death of a human being, kill and murder the victim, a human being, by shooting him with a firearm or while engaged in the perpetration of, or in the attempt to perpetrate, a robbery, ill and murder the victim, a human being, by shooting him with a firearm, and during the commission of said offense, did actually possess and discharge a firearm, and as a result of the discharge did cause death or great bodily harm, contrary to Florida Statute 782.04(1); 777.011; 775.087,

Count II Robbery – Discharge of a Firearm Causing Death or Great Bodily Harm: On or about June 1, 2024, in Lee County, Florida, did unlawfully take away from the person or custody of Royal Jacks Casino or victim or victim, certain property, to-wit: United States currency, the property of Royal Jacks Casino or victim or victim, as owner or custodian, with the intent to permanently or temporarily deprive the owner or custodian of a right to the property, and when in the course of the taking, there was the use of force, violence, assault or putting in fear, and in the course of committing said robbery, did carry, actually possess and did discharge a firearm, and as a result of the discharge, death or great bodily harm was inflicted upon a person, to-wit: the victim, contrary to Florida Statute 812.13; 777.011; 775.087(2)(a)3,

Count III Tampering with or Fabricating Physical Evidence: Between June 1, 2024 and June 5, 2024, in Lee County, Florida, did unlawfully and knowingly alter, destroy, conceal or remove any record, document, or thing with the purpose to impair its verity or availability in a proceeding or investigation, knowing that a criminal trial or proceeding or investigation by a duly constituted prosecuting authority, law enforcement agency, grand jury, or legislative committee of this state is pending or is about to be instituted, contrary to Florida Statute 918.13(1)(a),

“I hope this indictment brings some peace to the family and friends of the victim. This is a very recent crime and I am glad this first step on the path to seek justice, could be swift. I want to thank the Lee County Grand Jury for their attention to the details of this case. I also want to thank Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno and all of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, for their multi-layered investigation into this crime, which led to the quick apprehension of the defendant,” said State Attorney Fox.

Samantha Syoen – Communications Director, State Attorney’s Office