Backyard argument left SC man dead, another will go to prison for decades, prosecutor says
A South Carolina man is going to prison for decades after he was recently convicted on a murder charge, according to the 11th Circuit Solicitor's Office .
Jabin Trapp, a 53-year-old Lexington resident, was sentenced to 40 years in prison after being found guilty of murder by a Lexington County jury, the solicitor's office said in a news release. Trapp is not eligible for parole under South Carolina law, according to the release.
Trapp was convicted for his role in the 2021 shooting death of 49-year-old Lexington resident Parrish Phillips, the solicitor's office said.
On June 27, 2021, Lexington Police Department officers responded to a shooting at Trapp's home in the 100 block of Freedom Drive , according to the release. That's in the area of Lexington that's between Interstate 20 and U.S. 1/Augusta Road.
Phillips died from being shot multiple times and his body was found in the backyard area of the home, the solicitor's office said.
Trapp, who owned the home, later admitted to police that he shot Phillips after a verbal argument between the men on the back porch that afternoon, according to the release. Information about why Trapp and Phillips were arguing was not available.
Trapp told police that he and Phillips had been friends for years, and that Phillips had moved into the home in early June 2021, the solicitor's office said.
During the argument, Trapp said he went inside the home and got a handgun from his bedroom, before returning to the back porch where he fatally shot Phillips, according to the solicitor's office.
Prior to trial, Trapp requested immunity from prosecution based on the South Carolina Protection of Persons and Property Act, also known as the "stand your ground" law , but was denied, according to the release.
During the trial that ran from Sept. 16-19, 2024, Trapp claimed the shooting was in self-defense, the solicitor's office said. Prosecutors established evidence that Phillips, who wore an eyepatch over his left eye and was recovering from recent intestinal surgery, was shot on his blind side, according to the release.
Testimony at trial revealed that Trapp started the argument, and that Phillips was unarmed, the solicitor's office said.
Phillips' autopsy was conducted at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston and a forensic pathologist testified that he suffered multiple fatal gunshot wounds to his back and side, according to the release.
Following the verdict, Phillips' family and friends described the impact of the loss of the beloved father, brother, uncle, and son, the solicitor's office said. Phillips was known for his service dog "Max", who was always by his side, according to the release.
In addition to Lexington police, the shooting was investigated by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division , which processed the crime scene.
