MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A veteran of the U.S. Army, who participated in the Afghanistan conflict, entered a not guilty plea on Wednesday regarding the shooting death of a homeless man in downtown Memphis. Karl P. Loucks, 42, faced a first-degree murder charge, along with a separate charge of aggravated assault stemming from a prior incident involving another homeless individual. The plea was entered during a session in Shelby County Criminal Court. Currently, Loucks remains in custody without the possibility of bail. His arrest occurred on May 31 in connection with the murder of Shaun Rhea, with Loucks’ legal representative indicating that self-defense might be argued in the case.
In a previous hearing conducted in July, testimony from a security guard and a police investigator painted a picture of the events leading up to the tragic incident. Tony Perry, a security guard from a nearby hotel, recounted witnessing Loucks using pepper spray on Rhea while the latter was asleep. Perry went on to describe how Loucks had also assaulted other homeless individuals with pepper spray that same night.
After being sprayed, Rhea confronted Loucks, demanding to know his reasoning and reportedly using derogatory language. In response, Loucks brandished a knife, while Rhea attempted to defend himself by throwing an electric scooter at Loucks, which missed its target. Perry noted that, despite Rhea’s anger, there was no indication he intended to physically assault Loucks.
Following this confrontation, Loucks reentered his apartment building but soon emerged with an AR-style rifle concealed beneath an orange jacket. Witnesses reported hearing several gunshots. According to testimony from Memphis police Sgt. Jeremy Cline, Rhea was struck in the back despite being unarmed and later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.
Law enforcement personnel discovered the rifle and jacket inside Loucks’ apartment. During an interrogation after his arrest, Loucks maintained that he acted in self-defense when Rhea confronted him, as reported by Cline.
Loucks served as a healthcare specialist in the Army from September 2007 to August 2013, with his deployment in Afghanistan occurring between March 2009 and March 2010. He concluded his military service with the rank of private first class and was granted an honorable discharge due to a disability resulting from post-traumatic stress disorder. Loucks’ attorney, Blake Ballin, disclosed on Wednesday that arrangements were underway for a psychological assessment to ascertain whether Loucks’ mental health could influence his defense strategy.
Additionally, Loucks has been implicated in another incident, facing aggravated assault charges for allegedly stabbing another homeless man on two occasions just days prior to Rhea’s death. During the July session, Judge Bill Anderson expressed concern that Loucks’ wartime experiences might significantly impact the developments of the case.
