Man Sentenced for Murder Over $10 Cable Bill Dispute

A 57-year-old man was sentenced recently to 158 years to life in state prison for killing a woman and wounding her boyfriend over an argument about a $10 cable bill, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced. Kenneth Theodrick Parks was convicted last month of one count each of first-degree murder and attempted murder. Jurors also found true gun and great bodily injury allegations.

Deputy District Attorney Joshua Ritter said Parks and Terri Smith, 42, rented out rooms at a home in South Los Angeles and the two had an ongoing dispute over a $10 cable bill that she had not paid. On April 14, 2014, Parks was outside Smith’s room when he opened fire, killing her. Smith’s boyfriend also was shot and struck twice. He was able to grab the gun from Parks and hit the defendant with it, the prosecutor added. Case BA423684 was investigated by Los Angeles Police Department’s South Bureau Homicide.

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