Jonathan Wade Parker
Agency patch
Lance Corporal

Jonathan Wade Parker

South Carolina Highway Patrol — Blythewood, SC
Felonious
End of Watch May 16, 2005
Age 29
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 153 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Trooper Jonathan Parker was killed when his patrol car was deliberately rammed during a vehicle pursuit of a robbery suspect near the intersection of Highway 527 and Highway 378.

The suspect had robbed a convenience store at a truck stop on I-95 earlier in the morning and was being pursued by Clarendon County deputies and Manning police officers.

Trooper Parker, who was ahead of the pursuit, had stopped his patrol car on the shoulder of the highway to wait for the pursuit to reach his location. It is believed that the suspect intentionally drove into the patrol car, causing it to burst into flames. The suspect attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended at the scene.

The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to life without parole. He was sentenced to an additional 25 years for failure to stop.

Trooper Parker had served with the South Carolina Highway Patrol for 5 years and had previously served with the Sumter County Sheriff's Office.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, parents, brother, and four sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-580DFD4E
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Lance Corporal Parker gave the South Carolina Highway Patrol 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of South Carolina. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lance Corporal Parker.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location Blythewood, SC
Platform Identity schp.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 16, 2005
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 29
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Vehicular assault
Weapon Automobile
Offender Sentenced to life

Lance Corporal Jonathan Wade Parker is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In SC, 271 of 438 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At South Carolina Highway Patrol, 20 of 52 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 38.5% of this agency's fallen.

South Carolina Highway Patrol
20
of 52 officers
38.5% Felonious
SC — Statewide
271
of 438 officers
61.9% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jonathan Wade Parker's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Jonathan Wade Parker Compares

Age at End of Watch
29
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to life

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jonathan Wade Parker is highlighted in May.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jonathan Wade Parker was killed by automobile.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518