Jefferson City police arrest man accused of murder after robbery at Twisted Chicks on August 17

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Jefferson City detectives have arrested a man charged with murder in connection with an attack that occurred Aug. 17 in the 2700 block of Industrial Drive, according to a Jefferson City police news release.

Kamari Balton, 26, was arrested Friday on suspicion of first-degree murder, the release said. He is accused of killing 49-year-old Rafael Ayala at Twisted Chicks, the release said. The charges have not yet appeared on Casenet. He is currently being held in the Platte County Jail awaiting extradition to Cole County.

According to the press release, police were called to Twisted Chicks at 1:43 a.m. for a robbery at the store. The caller claimed to see a person unconscious on the floor. Police found Ayala unconscious and took him to University Hospital in Columbia, where he later died from his injuries, the press release said.

The owner of Twisted Chicks said the fight took place in a parking lot outside the building after the bar closed for the evening.

Another man was arrested that night in connection with the robbery, but no further charges have been filed against him, said Cole County Prosecutor Locke Thompson.

A few days later, a second arrest was made at the same location in connection with an unrelated attack.