A Scotland Neck man who had been charged in a December 21, 2020 shooting death in Enfield but pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in May was charged Wednesday for possession of a firearm by a felon by the Roanoke Rapids Police Department.

Denija Jaheem Parker was convicted of the obstruction charge March 4, according to court records and received a six to 17-month sentence. He has no record of serving time within the state Department of Adult Correction, which most likely means he received credit for time served.

The latest charge against Parker, 23, occurred when Roanoke Rapids police Lieutenant M. Hunsucker observed a rental vehicle that hadn’t been returned in the westbound lane of Highway 158 around 6 p.m. and stopped it on Lewis Street. The vehicle had been reported stolen around 1 p.m.

During the stop, probable cause was developed to conduct a search of the inside of the vehicle. A handgun with an extended magazine was located in the vehicle and Parker, the driver, was taken into custody and before a magistrate, RRPD Lieutenant Morgan Worrell said in a statement. The rental car was returned to the victim, Worrell said.

Parker surrendered to the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office in January of 2021 to face initial charges of murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon and conspiracy in the Enfield shooting death. The offense date of the obstruction charge coincides with the date of the murder when Parker was 19.

A juvenile was believed to have been the shooter in the case, Enfield police said at the time — a shooting which claimed the life of 25-year-old Deaundra Boone in the parking lot of a convenience store.

Parker received a $5,000 bond for the RRPD charge and a March 27 district court date.

Corporal D.Norfleet and Officer P. Dueitt assisted.