Man charged with first-degree murder in Fulton State Hospital killing

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A warrant was issued on Monday for a man accused of killing another patient at Fulton State Hospital last week.

Jabril Kanatzar, 29, is charged with first-degree murder and misdemeanor fourth-degree assault.

Fulton police wrote in a press release last week that he is “in a secure facility being held with no bond,” though did not say which facility he was housed. His name did not appear on the Callaway County Jail roster on Monday afternoon. A court date has not been scheduled.

According to the probable cause statement, Kanatzar attacked Christos Karagiannis on Jan. 6. Police spoke with hospital workers on Jan. 7 and Karagiannis died from his injuries on Jan. 8, police wrote last week.

Court documents say that Kanatzar followed Karagiannis around in the day room of the facility and sucker-punched Karagiannis when he turned his back near the door. Kanatzar continued the attack while the victim was unconscious, the statement says. Kanatzar supposedly stomped on the victim’s head after punching him.

Police saw blood on the floor near the victim’s head in the video, the statement says. Staff then brought Kanatzar to a secluded area and one person was heard yelling that Karagiannis was dead, court documents say.

Karagiannis was brought to University Hospital in critical condition and later died.