Parents sought help for son after homeless man's killing

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The parents of the 13-year-old boy charged with killing a homeless man went to a local church for guidance shortly after their son's arrest.

Sharron Townsend, 12, at the time of his arrest, is accused of killing Thomas Trent in June.  The State Attorney's Office announced Thursday Townsend will be tried as an adult in the killing.

The executive pastor at the St. Paul Missionary Church, Scott Cotton, remembers a day in August when the parents, lost and looking for help, sat down during the service.

"When they were here they were very remorseful, very apologetic to not just us but I think their apologizing was for the city," said Cotton.

Cotton said the parents spoke to the church's bishop that day.

"They wanted to know, 'How do we handle this? How do we manage this?'  They had other kids, so definitely they don't want their other kids to go down that route," said Cotton.

Cotton said the crime is serious, but Sharron getting locked up for the rest of his life isn't the answer.

WJAX