Teen indicted for capital murder

After the suspect admitted to shooting and killing a 27-year-old man in late April, a Jefferson County grand jury indicted a teen for capital murder May 25.

According to a probable cause affidavit written by BPD Detective Jesus Tamayo, Jayden Joseph Leonard, 17, gave officers statements against his “penal interests,” admitting to an April 25 murder.

At about 8:42 p.m. that night, BPD officers arrived at the 3700 block of Usan Street in reference to shots fired. Upon their arrival, officers discovered a 27-year-old man suffering from what appeared to be gunshot wounds. Officials pronounced the victim, identified as David Bryant Parkerson, dead at the scene.

“During the course of the investigation, BPD detectives obtained Crime Stoppers information that (Leonard) had been involved in the homicide,” Tamayo wrote. “Defendant Leonard was subsequently interviewed by detectives, where he gave a statement against his (criminal) interests, admitting to having been the person who shot and killed Parkerson. Defendant Leonard also provided investigators with information that was not released to the public, and that only a person who was at the scene would know.”

Officers arrested Leonard April 26, and, as of publication, he was listed on the Jefferson County inmate roster with a $950,000 bond.