Trial date set for Army vet charged with killing homeless man

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - A trial date has been set for a U.S. Army veteran accused of shooting a homeless man to death in Downtown Memphis more than two years ago.

Karl Loucks, 43, is set to begin trial Monday, April 5, 2027.

Loucks is pleading not guilty to first-degree murder in the May 31, 2024, shooting death of 37-year-old Shaun Rhea.

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Investigators say Rhea was shot several times outside the Courtyard by Marriott on North Front Street before 3 a.m. that Friday. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

A witness who was working as a security guard for the hotel told police he saw a knife-wielding man pepper-spray the victim while he was asleep and throw a scooter at him, so he pulled out his cellphone to record, warning the man that he was being filmed in an attempt to scare him away.

The guard told police he saw the man pepper-spray other homeless people that same night.

Authorities allege that the suspect, later identified as Loucks, ran back to his apartment and returned to the hotel shortly after with a rifle concealed under an orange jacket.

The gunman then opened fire on Rhea, leaving him with fatal injuries.

Police quickly identified Loucks as the suspect thanks to video evidence, the security guard’s testimony, and Loucks’ address matching the apartment where the suspect was last seen.

Inside Loucks’ apartment, investigators also reportedly found the same rifle and jacket that the suspect was seen carrying.

Loucks was arrested and charged with first-degree murder the same day.

Court records show that the security officer told police there were several incidents involving Loucks attacking unhoused people in the past. Just two months after he was arrested for murder, Loucks was charged with aggravated assault in connection with one of those attacks, which happened just days before the fatal shooting.

Rhea’s friend Willie Payno said the 37-year-old had been homeless for the past three months due to his battle with addiction.

Shelby County Judge Bill Anderson said during Loucks’ bond hearing that the situation was bizarre and there was no rhyme or reason to what happened.

Mental evaluations also came up in court after Anderson mentioned Loucks’ time in the military and that he served in Afghanistan for two tours.

Loucks’ lawyer, Blake Ballin, argued that Loucks acted in self-defense.

Ballin also said Loucks was honorably discharged from the Army due to post-traumatic stress disorder.

Loucks remains behind bars at the Shelby County Jail, where he is being held without bond pending his trial.

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