Gary Don Parrish

Published: Tuesday, July 06, 1999 Services for Gary Don Parrish, 42, of Lubbock will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday in Franklin-Bartley Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Russ Hale officiating. Burial will be in Peaceful Gardens Memorial Park under direction of Franklin-Bartley Funeral Home. He died Saturday, July 3, 1999, at University Medical Center. He was born June 21, 1957, in Lubbock and lived in both Midland and Lubbock. He was a car salesman for Gene Messer Toyota and a Baptist. Survivors include a son, Michael Brandon Parrish of Lubbock; his mother and step-father, Doris and Robert Duff of Lodi, Calif.; a sister, Kay Parrish of Antioch, Calif.; a brother, Bobby Vernon Veitch of Orcult, Calif.; four step-brothers; two step-sisters. The family suggests memorials be made to Children's Miracle Network, P.O. Box 5980, Lubbock 79408. The family will receive guests from 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Grand jury indicts Michael T. Austin on murder charges

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Published: Thursday, July 22, 1999

Michael T. Austin, 48, is charged with the June 24 shooting of Gary Don Parrish, 42. Parrish underwent numerous surgeries and his leg was amputated before he died nine days later. Parrish was ambushed about 10:20 p.m. in his girlfriend's home in the 2000 block of 16th Street, according to police reports. The 32-year-old woman saw the attacker before fleeing the house. Parrish suffered shotgun wounds to his hip and groin. He died July 3 at UMC. Austin, the woman's estranged husband, surrendered to police at the scene. He reportedly told officers, ''I forgot to kill myself. ... I was supposed to blow my head off after I did it, but I forgot to.'' Austin remains jailed on $50,000 bond.

Michael T. Austin sentenced to 25 years

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Published:Saturday, April 28, 2001

Michael T. Austin, 50, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on the two charges. Gary Don Parrish suffered shotgun wounds to his hip and groin in the June 24, 1999, attack. He underwent numerous surgeries, and doctors amputated one leg before he died nine days later at University Medical Center. At a court hearing Thursday, Parrish's sister, mother and girlfriend testified about the impact his death had on their lives. His girlfriend gave birth to their child after his death. Parrish was visiting his girlfriend's home in the 2000 block of 16th Street when Austin broke in and attacked him. Parrish's girlfriend, also Austin's estranged wife, was cooking, heard a commotion and found the men in a back bedroom. Parrish was on the ground, and Austin was pointing a shotgun at him, she told police. ''I'm going to blow your brains out,'' Austin said, according to police reports. The woman heard gunshots as she ran to a neighbor's house for help. Austin initially fled the scene but returned about 30 minutes later and peacefully surrendered to police. He reportedly told officers, ''I forgot to kill myself. ... I was supposed to blow my head off after I did it, but I forgot to.' ''

Elizabeth Langton can be contacted at 766-8795 or blangton@lubbockonline.com.