Despair, disbelief after young father is shot at party in Clinton park

Catina Parker is struggling to find the words to explain to her grandchildren that their father, Kquadem Treyondus Parker, won't be coming home.

He and his sister, Brittany Parker, were at a party in Kirtwood Park in Clinton early Sunday when shots rang out.

Kquadem Parker, 28, of Newton Grove and Jonas Highsmith were rushed to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville, where Parker died. Highsmith was in the intensive care until on Monday, and he is expected to live.

A third person was shot, but only had minor injuries and was treated and released from the hospital.

It is left to Sampson County Sheriff Jimmy Thornton to find answers for Parker's family. Thornton estimated about 200 people were at the party, but they scattered when shots rang out just before 3 a.m.

"By the time we had gotten out there – which was pretty quick – there was hardly no one there," Thornton said.

Brittany Parker remembers about 20 shots being fired.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sampson County Sheriff's Office at 910-592-4141.