Victim’s friends protest coverage

Several individuals were being interviewed Thursday evening in connection with the Carlos Kelly homicide, police said.

As of 10:30 p.m., Capt. Brad Nelson of the Columbia Police Department said no arrests have been made. He declined to elaborate.

Columbia police spent Thursday following tips in what they say might be a drug-related slaying. Kelly, 34, was found dead around 4 a.m. Wednesday at his triplex apartment at 1311 Cynthia Drive after a female acquaintance called 911 to report Kelly had been beaten and robbed. Police arrived at Kelly’s home 15 minutes after the call was made.

An autopsy performed Wednesday revealed that Kelly died from a blow to the head.

Police said four witnesses, all of whom have been interviewed, were at the apartment when suspects entered.

As the investigation continued, Jeff Stack of the Mid-Missouri Fellowship of Reconciliation organized a protest with Kelly’s friends and neighbors to show their disapproval of the Missourian’s coverage of his death. The group was planning to protest the Columbia Daily Tribune today.

Protestors, who stood in rain and wind outside of the Missourian building, said information regarding Kelly’s criminal past should not have been included in stories reported by the two newspapers.

The Missourian reported Thursday that court records show Kelly had been charged in several misdemeanor and felony cases since 1989 and had pleaded guilty to several crimes, including assault, drug possession and resisting arrest, between 1989 and 2004.

“It seemed to me it minimized him as a victim,” Stack said.

Friends who knew Kelly personally were also bothered by the coverage. Longtime friend Nathan Stephens said despite Kelly’s past, he considered him to be a close friend.

“I grew up next to Carlos in public housing on Trinity (Place),” Stephens said. “He was like a brother to me.”

Morda Scott held a sign stating, “God Respects the Kelly Family, Newspapers Don’t.”

Scott also said he has known Kelly since he was young and said both newspapers did not accurately capture the person she knew.

“If he was the demon he is being made out to be, would people be willing to stand up for him?” Scott said.