Former Death Row Inmate Approved For Parole In Johnston County Murder
SMITHFIELD, N.C. – A man once sentenced to death for a 2000 Johnston County drive-by shooting that killed Seleana Ceana Nesbitt has been approved for parole, with his release date set for April 2, 2029.
The N.C. Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission has approved Lamorris Chapman for parole through the Mutual Agreement Parole Program, commonly known as MAPP.
The decision follows an announcement in December 2025 that the commission was investigating Chapman’s case for possible parole through the program.
MAPP is an agreement between the offender, state prison system and Parole Commission designed to prepare selected inmates for eventual release through education, vocational training, behavioral programs and progression through custody levels. Parole dates under the program are conditional, and participants are expected to satisfactorily complete the requirements of their agreements.
Fatal Drive-By Shooting
Chapman was convicted in connection with the July 9, 2000 shooting death of Nesbitt.
According to the court records, Nesbitt was riding in the back seat of a Nissan with her friend Brandy Raquel Smith after leaving Club 39, a nightclub near Mudcat Stadium in Wake County.
Chapman and several friends were traveling in a Cadillac. After the group left the club, they retrieved an SKS semi-automatic rifle and a .45-caliber handgun they had hidden before entering the nightclub.
Court records state that as the Cadillac approached the Nissan on N.C. Highway 39 in Johnston County, Chapman told the driver not to pass it. Chapman then fired the SKS rifle from the front passenger window while another man, DaJuan Morgan, fired the handgun from a rear window. Chapman fired the rifle six to eight times, according to testimony at trial.
Nesbitt and Smith, both seated in the back of the Nissan, were struck by gunfire. The driver rushed them to Johnston Memorial Hospital in Smithfield. Smith survived her injuries. Nesbitt was pronounced dead.
Originally Sentenced To Death
A Johnston County jury convicted Chapman in October 2001 of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and discharging a firearm into occupied property.
The jury recommended the death penalty, and Chapman was sentenced to death on Nov. 2, 2001. He also received consecutive prison sentences of 157 to 198 months for attempted first-degree murder and 25 to 39 months for discharging a firearm into occupied property.
Chapman was 17 years when Nesbitt was murdered.
His case was pending before the N.C. Supreme Court when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Roper v. Simmons in 2005 that executing offenders who were younger than 18 when they committed their crimes violated the U.S. Constitution.
The N.C. Supreme Court subsequently upheld Chapman’s convictions but vacated his death sentence and returned the case to Johnston County Superior Court for resentencing.
North Carolina law provides a separate sentencing framework for defendants who were under 18 when they committed first-degree murder. Under the law, a sentence of life imprisonment with parole requires an offender to serve at least 25 years before becoming eligible for parole.
Under the MAPP agreement approved for Chapman, his scheduled parole release date is April 2, 2029.
Two co-defendants were later convicted for their roles in the case. One of them, Jared Clemmons, was convicted in August 2002 of second-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury. He was paroled in 2008, according to online state prison records.
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Nope.
THIS is a complete failure on the State of NC to do the right thing. If he can’t be executed, hold him for the rest of his life.
Pathetic “justice” system.
Such a slap in the face to the victims…. karma is a female dog
His brother DunDun Chapman is doing 10 years in federal prison and it’s not his first time for selling drugs. The whole family is a issue. I will be very surprised if he doesn’t reoffend when he’s released. What about the woman who lost her life??? When does she get a second chance? Don’t worry, I’ll wait…
“North Carolina law…for defendants who were under 18 when they committed first-degree murder… requires an offender to serve at least 25 years before becoming eligible for parole.”
More than half their life institutionalized. Then, as an ADULT, tossed into a completely different society than when they were incarcerated. What could possibly go wrong? Just shaking my head at the freaking absurdity.
Nesbitt was just 16 years old when her life was taken from her. Her friend was 15. They were riding in the backseat of a car around 2am-3am, with the intended targets being the front seat passengers. (What could go wrong by killing the driver on Hwy 39??) Geez.
Read the case for yourself. Chapman doesn’t deserve parole. PERIOD. NEVER! EVER!
You have got to be kidding??? This is why if someone is convicted and sentenced to the death penalty, it must be carried out immediately. This is insane, he was grown enough to murder Miss Nesbitt as recklessly as he did, he was grown enough to suffer the punishment that the jury sentenced him to. He has already lived 25 years longer than he should have. This is a slap in the face to Miss Nesbitt’s family. And people wonder why people distrust our justice system.
25 years is not a life sentence. Seleana Ceana Nesbitt Is dead, and Brandy Raquel Smith survived. Let’s allow Brandy to decide if 25 years is enough jail time for her pain and if it’s a fair sentence for her friend’s life is gone because of this evil man. Let her decide if he gets parole.
Insane
Who makes this decision, to not only essentially take him off death row but grant parole? This is sickening. Most 17 year olds make dumb mistakes, but his ended someone’s life. It wasn’t attempted murder, he knew what would happen.
But yeah, let’s let that go & throw him back into society thinking prison somehow changed his life & he’ll be an upstanding citizen. I’m all for second chances, his should be life without parole. Our justice system is a complete and utter joke.
If someone falls victim to this criminal, they should sue the parole board for criminal negligence. Once people are allowed to hold judges, da’s, defense attorneys and parole boards accountable for their incompetence , then we will see the justice system work as intended. Until then………nothing. Joco report should name the members of the parole board who voted to parole this savage.
MAPP is an agreement between the offender, state prison system and Parole Commission designed to prepare selected inmates for eventual release through education, vocational training, behavioral programs and progression through custody levels. Where is the voice of the Victim or the family of the victim? This is a travesty and we need to voice our opinion. This THUG had no value of life and he should have been executed years ago. The longer they sit in prison, the longer the victims suffer.
Criteria for Participation
There is no parole for offenders who committed crimes after Oct. 1, 1994 sentenced under Structured Sentencing. Only offenders who committed crimes before that date and were sentenced under Fair Sentencing or earlier criminal sentencing laws in North Carolina may be considered for parole or MAPP.
They are violating their own policy
The family and other victim should raise this issue with the state and find a lawyer. I bet an attorney out there would take it on for free.
Well, if he does it again the reflection 🪞 will be to the parole board and the state for their stupid “agreement”
It honestly sounds like this guy weaseled his way out of the system
“Don’t set a wild beast free unless you intend to give the beast another chance to re offend.”
I am all up for second chances, but this guy committed murder. If the girl doesn’t get a second chance, why should he?
What a slap in the face to the family of the victim. He took a life. He won’t last long on the streets, he’ll be back in. Murderer !
Why isn’t anyone asking… “how did we as a society fail this child?”
It isn’t society’s responsibility to raise children. His parents failed him. That is what is wrong with this country. We try to put the blame on everyone except the actual responsible person. It wasn’t my job to teach him right from wrong. I taught my children, his parents should have taught him.
There are different sets of norms in our society.
You wouldn’t find my children in a club at that age. Or toting guns. Or hanging out until 2am-3am.
If you want roses, don’t plant stinkweed.
By allowing the welfare system to replace fathers while creating systemic and generational poverty.
Dads are a very integral part of a family unit. There was no one to lead this child down a moral road, so the streets took him under their wing.
To fix this, we need major welfare reform.
Wonder who he will kill next.
This has to be a joke of some sort.
Sadly, there doesn’t seem to be much of a justice system left. Somewhere along the line, it just fell apart. There seems to be more sympathy for the offender than the victim. Something DEFINITELY needs to change.
Hopefully, the victim’s family has seen the movie, A Time to Kill.
Law Abiding Citizen….perfect movie for this topic
I’m gonna be sick. At least he’ll be old enough to buy his own gun for his next murder.
Blows me away that the other guy got parole after only 8 years. I have no doubt this dude will either mess up and forfeit his parole, or someone will give him the death sentence he deserves.
What a bunch of Liberal BS. That ruling referenced in the above article was the beginning of what we deal with now on a daily basis of everyone being entitled and everyone has(Rights). I feel if you do the crime do the time regardless of rights and if it means your time is death then so be it. It’s simple if don’t want to go to prison or jail then follow the laws and you will not have any issues.
And y’all call yourselves Christians. SMH
One of the biggest takeaways of the Bible is: Thou Shalt NOT Kill!
1 John 3:15 reiterates that harboring deep hatred in one’s heart is spiritually equivalent to murder, stating that a murderer does not have eternal life.
Yup. And God’s Word says if a man takes a life then his life is to be taken. So, when we do things our way instead of God’s we end up in a society like we have today. A society that does not value human life so letting a convicted murderer go free is okay. If man sheds blood, by man shall his blood be shed. Thou shalt do no murder. He murdered and it is clear what his sentence should be.
In the Old Testament capital punishment is prescribed for infractions like sabbath-breaking or disrespecting parents. I bet you are guilty of those T4L. Think of how much better society would be if you focused on doing better for all, helping, rather than living in your imaginary bubble of grievances.
Genesis 9:6
If you go to the NC inmate prison roster page and search his name he’s had 18 infractions with the last one being in 2001!!!!!!! That alone tells me he is not a changed man nor will he ever be!
No, no, no. The dead young lady died y get a life. He is where he belongs and where he should stay til he dies.