---
title: 4th of July Fireworks - Blackfish Files - Blackfish Intelligence
description: Discover how Blackfish Investigations secured an acquittal for our client, who acted in self-defense to protect himself and his family.
image: https://blackfishintel.com/hubfs/Website%20Images/BF_Files.webp
---
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# FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS
THE BLACKFISH FILES
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## Offense
Murder
## The Allegation
On the 4th of July, 2020, a family was having a reunion celebration in a local Dallas area park. A verbal argument broke out between two men that would have turned physical if onlookers had not intervened. One of the men started walking toward the parking lot and the second man began following him. When the first man approached his car, the second man pulled a semi-automatic handgun from his waistband and fired 16 shots into the man’s back, killing him. He was arrested and charged with murder.
## Our Client
He was a 32-year-old man, engaged to be married to the mother of his two children. He was a barber with no significant criminal history, but a reputation as a good, non-violent person.
## His Version of the Story
Our client was enjoying a family holiday in the park while preparing to enjoy fireworks with his 13-year-old son when he was approached by a man he knew. The man appeared intoxicated and belligerent and quickly confronted our client. Our client tried to de-escalate the situation but the man persisted and began threatening to get a gun from his car and kill our client, his wife, and their kids. As the man began stomping toward his car, our client followed him in an attempt to calm the man down, but he continued to repeat the threats. As the man approached his car, our client felt he had no choice but to use deadly force to keep the man from getting access to a gun.
## Our Findings
Our investigation found that the deceased man had a well-earned reputation for violence and had been incarcerated twice before. He was known to possess firearms and was unpredictable. He was considered a dangerous man and many witnesses testified that his threats were credible. Our measurements at the scene helped demonstrate that our client had no opportunity to escape with his family before the man could get to his car. He used deadly force in self-defense and in defense of other people.
## The Outcome
The jury voted unanimously to acquit our client of all charges.
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Daryl Parker
## Daryl Parker
### PRESIDENT & SR. INVESTIGATOR
Daryl Parker is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and a board-certified Criminal Defense Investigator with over twenty-five years of experience in military, law enforcement, and private investigations. His work includes high-profile cold-case investigations, and founding a non-profit providing investigative services for potential wrongful conviction cases. Daryl is also a certified Force Science Analyst and a Firearms Expert.
[Contact Daryl](mailto:daryl@blackfishintel.com)
JD Spielman
## JD Spielman
### PARTNER & SR. INVESTIGATOR
JD Spielman is a U. S. Army veteran and a board-certified Criminal Defense Investigator with over 30 years of experience in law enforcement. In 2010 he was selected as the Investigator of the Year by the Dallas County District Attorney, and subsequently became the Deputy Chief Investigator with the Collin County DA’s office. He is currently in charge of the Criminal Investigations division at Blackfish.
[Contact JD](mailto:jd@blackfishintel.com)
Nathan Goldman
## Nathan Goldman
### Partner
Nathan Goldman is the Director of Digital Forensics, leading complex digital investigations with expertise and precision. He holds a Master’s degree in Digital Forensics and Cyber Security from Sam Houston State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. Certified as a Cellebrite Operator (CCO), Magnet Certified Forensics Examiner (MCFE), and Magnet Certified Verakey Examiner (MCVK), he excels in mobile, computer, and cloud-based forensic analysis.
[Contact Nathan](mailto:nathan@blackfishintel.com)
Maddy Wickham
## Maddy Wickham
### Partner
With over 10 years of experience leading complex investigative operations, Maddy Wickham is a recognized leader in high-stakes surveillance and background investigations. Named the 2025 Blackfish Investigator of the Year, she excels at surveillance operations, infiltration tactics, and multi-layered investigative strategies that deliver critical results. From skip-tracing, missing persons, asset identification, advanced OSINT analysis, and criminal investigations, Maddy has a proven track record of winning, saving clients millions of dollars in lawsuits through meticulous investigative work. She also excels in online reputation management and privacy protection, helping high-profile individuals and executives shield their personal information from public exposure. Known for her caring and disciplined approach, Maddy consistently delivers actionable intelligence that drives successful outcomes.
[Contact Maddy](mailto:maddy@blackfishintel.com)
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#### THE BLACKFISH FILES
- [Fourth Of July Fireworks](https://blackfishintel.com/blackfish-files/fourth-of-july-fireworks)
- [Acquitted Of All Charges](https://blackfishintel.com/blackfish-files/acquitted-of-all-charges)
- [Benjamin Spencer Released](https://blackfishintel.com/blackfish-files/benjamin-spencer-released)
- [Fish Out Of Water](https://blackfishintel.com/blackfish-files/fish-out-of-water)
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