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A Houston man has been sentenced to 77 years in prison for the 2019 murder of 30-year-old Marcus Ealy. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg expressed her condolences, stating, “We mourn with the family for the loss of this young man who was gunned down in the prime of his life.” Ogg emphasized the shocking nature of the crime, which took place in broad daylight, saying, “We sought justice for the victim and the family, and now this defendant will spend decades, and maybe his whole life, in prison.”
Cory Cornell Parker, 32, was convicted of murder by a Harris County jury following a four-day trial and was sentenced by a judge on Tuesday. The tragic incident occurred on August 22, 2019, when Parker shot Ealy in the chest in the parking lot of a mutual friend’s apartment complex in northwest Houston. The two men had known each other since high school.
Assistant District Attorney Heather Axline, who prosecuted the case alongside ADA Tyler Arner, described the victim as a beloved member of a large extended family, emphasizing the senselessness of his killing. Axline stated, “This was an absolutely senseless killing, and there’s no reason this young life should have been taken so abruptly.”
Parker, who fled the scene in his car after the shooting, was later arrested and charged with murder by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. He must serve at least half of his 77-year prison sentence before being eligible for parole.