Jefferson City man charged with murder in bar brawl

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Jefferson City man has been charged with murder after a patron was killed in a bar brawl last month.

An arrest warrant for first-degree murder was served on 26-year-old Kamari Balton on Tuesday after he was charged on Sept. 11. The case was kept under seal until this week.

The indictment provides few details, but says Balton is accused of striking an unnamed victim in the head, resulting in his death.

Police arrested Balton on Sept. 13 following the death of Rafael Ayala at Twisted Chicks, a bar in Jefferson City. Jefferson City police said in a news release that police were called there early on Aug. 17 and found Ayala unconscious on the floor.

He later died in the university hospital.

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

A few days later, a second arrest was made at the same location for a different attack.

Balton remained in the Cole County Jail without bail Friday. His first court appearance is scheduled for Monday.