KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Kansas City man was charged in the deadly beating of Lovell Smith, whose body was found in an alley in the Northeast area of Kansas City in October.
Joseph Parker, 36, was charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action.
According to court records, police officers were sent to Roberts and Askew in Kansas City where they found Smith in an alley.
Surveillance video shows a silver car stopping in a nearby driveway. Moments later, Smith is seen walking in the alley towards the area where he was eventually found dead.
Court documents say another part of the video shows the suspect carrying a pry bar and walking from the back of the home where the car parked. Police believe the bar was used to hit Smith.
Later, the suspect walks away from where the victim was discovered. Parker is still carrying the pry bar, and he wipes it off in the grass.
The silver car is then seen leaving the scene.
Court documents say a witness told police they saw the suspect raise the bar above his head and bring it down as though he was hitting someone. The witness said they heard someone yell loudly.
During the investigation, police found out Parker was arrested one hour and 15 minutes after the murder for outstanding warrants. According to court documents, when Parker was arrested he asked the arresting officer, “This is over an argument ain’t it?”
Prosecutors requested a bond of $250,000.
