NANAIMO — The family of a man killed over the long weekend at Maffeo Sutton Park are remembering him as a generous, goofy and thoughtful individual.
Cindy Parsons, the mother of 29-year-old Fred Parsons who was stabbed to death on Monday, Sep. 5 while at the park with a friend, said her son was with two other friends for a late-night stroll.
“That evening the three friends stopped to play on the swings. They laughed and giggled as they bumped each other,” Parsons said in a written statement to media who covered the Monday incident. “All three friends were bear sprayed, along with Fred’s small dog. Fred was stabbed and did not survive.”
Two people were arrested in the aftermath of the incident, a 19-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy. A third person was known by police however they couldn’t immediately locate them.
Charges would ultimately be laid Friday, Sep. 9 with the 19-year-old, identified as Mark Jayden Harrison, facing a second degree murder charge in the death of Fred Parsons.
The 17-year-old boy has not been charged to date, while the third individual was named through court records as Aiden Matthew William Bell.
Bell faces a pair of weapons charges including assault with a weapon.
In her statement, Cindy Parsons said Fred’s family and friends are still coming to terms with his loss.
“The circle of trauma is wide. Fred was the only person who died but there are numerous traumatized people from this senseless act of violence. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and concrete support.”
Parsons also denied what she called “hurtful rumours” on social media which suggested Fred and his friends were either drunk or under the influence of drugs.
She said her son worked “harder than anyone I know” to overcome disabilities he was born with.
“Fred was trusting, perhaps too trusting, which made him vulnerable. He believed in fairness, kindness, justice, generosity and respect and he lived out those truths.
Both a celebration of life and an evening vigil at Maffeo Sutton Park are being planned in Fred’s memory.
The men charged with various aspects of the incident, including his death, are due back in court beginning Sep. 20.
The family of a man killed at Maffeo Sutton Park after being stabbed is remembering him as a kind, generous man. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)Join the conversation. Submit your letter to NanaimoNewsNOW and be included on The Water Cooler, our letters to the editor feature.
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