A Missouri man is facing charges of second-degree murder and armed criminal action after allegedly stabbing his friend to death over a dispute about a Kansas City Chiefs sweatshirt. Trey Parker, 23, was arrested in connection with the incident that took place on Friday as the two friends prepared to visit a casino.
The incident unfolded at Parker’s residence, where he, the victim, and the victim’s mother were present for a garage sale hosted by Parker’s mother. As the day turned into night and the garage sale concluded, another man joined the group, and they decided to head to a nearby casino.
According to court documents, while the victim’s mother and the newly arrived man were preparing a vehicle for the trip, Parker and the victim began arguing in a nearby parking lot. The argument reportedly centered around a sweatshirt the victim was wearing, which belonged to Parker.
Witnesses reported seeing some physical altercation between the two, and upon entering the vehicle, the victim claimed he had been stabbed and requested to be taken to the hospital. The victim, his mother, and the other man then sought out an ambulance.
The victim’s mother stated that no one else was in the vicinity who could have harmed her son, implicating Parker as the only possible assailant. Parker’s mother also provided her account of the incident, stating she witnessed a heated argument between the two friends, with the victim wearing Parker’s sweatshirt and allegedly taunting him.
Surveillance footage reviewed by the police showed parts of the altercation. The footage reportedly showed Parker approaching the victim, brandishing an item in his right hand, and making a sudden move towards the victim, who was seen clutching his left rib cage area immediately after.
Paramedics were dispatched to a car wash near the intersection of South Crane and East 23 streets in Independence, where they found a male victim of a stab wound. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Parker was arrested on Monday. After being read his Miranda rights, he admitted to arguing with the victim over the sweatshirt. He claimed that the victim had a knife and made a stabbing and slashing motion at him, leading him to stab the victim in self-defense. However, police stated that video evidence contradicted Parker’s account.
Parker, who was arrested a day before his birthday on September 23, had his initial court appearance on Wednesday. He is scheduled for a bond review hearing on September 30. Parker has a history of arrests and convictions for various charges, including tampering with a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property, possessing a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.