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Paul Park, the person accused of ambushing a complete stranger as she exercised on a well-liked Nashville, Tennessee, path and taking pictures her to demise, was resulting from make his first court docket look on Thursday.
Park, 29, of Brentwood, was arrested lower than 24 hours after Vanderbilt graduate Alyssa Lokits, 34, was discovered useless on the Mill Creek Greenway path.
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Division has not revealed a motive within the killing that has left close by residents terrified.
Park was charged with felony murder in connection to Lokits’ demise.
ARREST MADE LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER NASHVILLE WOMAN WAS SHOT TO DEATH WHILE WALKING ON POPULAR TRAIL
Nashville police introduced a suspect was arrested lower than 24 hours after the homicide of Alyssa Lokits. (Metropolitan Nashville Police/Vanderbilt College)
In response to Williamson County court docket information obtained by Fox Information Digital, Park had a felony background with two prior offenses.
In 2017, Park was sentenced to probation as a part of judicial diversion after a home assault arrest.
Then in 2018, Park was sentenced to 10 days in jail and supervised probation for violating his unique probation sentence following his arrest for possession of medicine, with intent to fabricate, ship or promote. One of many three drug prices was ultimately dismissed as a part of a plea deal and Park pleaded responsible to the opposite two drug prices.
Lokits’ household launched a press release to native station WSMV 4, describing her as “a pressure to be reckoned with.”
“Dr. Alyssa Lokits, Ph.D. was a pressure to be reckoned with — pushed, profitable, sensible, and immensely proficient. Her fearless spirit and unwavering love impressed all who had the privilege to know her. She was a pal to everybody, at all times providing her generosity, pleasure, and light-weight to these round her,” the household stated in a press release.
“Her boundless assist for her giant household and quite a few family members was evident in each side of her life. She at all times confirmed up for these she cared about, bringing power and love along with her wherever she went. The lack of such a vibrant, compassionate, and noteworthy lady is devastating, and he or she will likely be deeply missed by her household, buddies, and all these whose lives she touched,” the assertion continued.
The household is requesting privateness as they take care of and navigate their “unimaginable grief.”
“We’re deeply disturbed by the heinous acts of assault and homicide in opposition to our beloved daughter, sister, cousin, aunt, niece, and pal,” the household stated.
UTAH MOM SHOT MISSING NATIONAL GUARD HUSBAND IN HIS SLEEP, SUGGESTED LOVER ‘TAKE IT TO THE GRAVE’: POLICE
Paul Park was booked into the Davidson County jail. He’s presently being held with out bond on a felony murder cost. (The Metropolitan Nashville Police Division )
The neighborhood can also be rallying round Lokits’ demise and calling on legislation enforcement and the town to implement extra security measures.
Councilman John Rutherford stated the world wants extra gates, extra lighting and elevated patrols. He added that there’s a want for license plate readers (LPRs), which might have to be accredited by the mayor, who has withheld funding, in keeping with Fox 17.
Throughout a press convention on Tuesday, Nashville Police Chief John Drake echoed Rutherford and acknowledged the necessity for LPRs.
“LPRs would have made a distinction. LPRs make us safer,” Drake stated.
Drake added that Park and Lokits didn’t know one another and that this was a random assault wherein he tried to sexually assault her earlier than fatally taking pictures her.
FORMER VEGAS DEMOCRAT POLITICIAN CONVICTED OF KILLING REPORTER IS SENTENCED TO AT LEAST 28 YEARS
Metropolitan Nashville Police introduced that they made an arrest in connection to the deadly taking pictures of a lady out on a stroll in Nashville, Tenn., on Monday night. (Metropolitan Nashville Police Division)
Paula Parker, a member of the church Lokits attended, stated she was shocked when she heard the information of Lokits’ homicide.
“Alyssa was a part of the church we attended. We have not seen her in a couple of years, however we watched Alyssa develop from a baby to a youngster. She was a godly, type, loving, enjoyable, assured, and clever younger lady with goals of changing into a neuroscientist as a way to assist others,” Parker wrote in a put up on Fb. “I am grateful the police arrested her killer. Please pray for the Lokits household.”
One in all Lokits’ neighbors, Man Gilchrist, instructed Fox 17 that he was “completely devastated and shocked” to listen to about her homicide. He added that she labored from residence and was at all times useful.
“She was simply extremely type to me and the neighbors adored her,” Gilchrist stated.
In response to Vanderbilt College, Lokits graduated from the varsity in 2017. She labored within the Hamm Lab as a graduate pupil in neuroscience.
Investigators decided that Lokits was out exercising within the space of the greenway path on Monday night when Park stepped out from between two parked automobiles and commenced following her at a “brisk tempo.”
Some witnesses claimed to have heard a lady screaming, “Assist! He’s attempting to rape me,” adopted by gunfire.
Witnesses additionally instructed police that they noticed a person, presumably Asian, on prime of Lokits earlier than pictures have been fired.
Police stated Lotkits and Park then walked out of view of the park’s surveillance digital camera. Nonetheless, video captured Park returning to his grey automotive with “scratches on his arms and blood on his clothes.”
2ND SUSPECT ARRESTED IN DEADLY HOME INVASION AFTER PHONY UTILITY WORKERS TARGET UPSCALE NEIGHBORHOOD
A person has been arrested in connection to the deadly taking pictures of a lady who was killed whereas strolling Monday on a well-liked Nashville, Tenn., strolling path. (X/@MNPDNashville)
Park then fled the parking space in a dark-colored four-door sedan in direction of Outdated Hickory Boulevard, in keeping with police.
Later within the night, a significant break within the case occurred when a witness who was native to the world supplied police with extra video footage recorded on his automotive’s dashcam that was parked on the greenway trailhead.
Police stated the dashcam recorded clear photographs of Park in addition to his automotive, whereas one other witness was capable of present a portion of Park’s license plate quantity.
Police stated one other main break within the case occurred when MNPD Murder Detective Shannon Forsyth reviewed the picture of the suspect taken from the witness’s dashcam and acknowledged the suspect as being the equivalent twin brother of a suicide case that she had labored on in December 2021.
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Detectives arrange surveillance at Park’s Brentwood residence, adopted him after he left and stopped him in Davidson County after the murder arrest warrant was issued.
“We sincerely recognize the swift and diligent efforts of the Nashville Metro Police Division, investigators, and witnesses/bystanders of their support to Alyssa and their apprehension of the person accountable. For a grave crime there needs to be grave penalties, and we are going to proceed to assist the authorities in in search of justice for Alyssa to the fullest extent of the legislation. We might additionally wish to thank the neighborhood for his or her assist and compassion throughout this extremely tough time,” the Lotkits household stated.
