Illinois tenant accused of stabbing landlord to death during an argument

A fight between an Illinois landlord and tenant turned fatal when the confrontation escalated into a stabbing, police said.

Belleville police were dispatched to the 200 block of Walnut Street in reference to a fight in progress and found a man lying on the ground suffering from an apparent stab wound around 4:45 p.m. Aug. 20.

Witnesses on the scene reportedly told officers the suspect went into an apartment building after the confrontation. EMS arrived and tended to the victim, while officers reportedly entered the building, found an open apartment and identified themselves, according to Belleville police.

Police said the man, later identified as Arthur R. Parris, 48, called out to the officers that he was in the open apartment. At that point, officers entered the apartment and “located a male subject covered in blood.”

Parris was taken into custody without incident and was transported to the Belleville Police Department. Meanwhile, the victim was transported to a local hospital and pronounced deceased.

Police said their investigation indicated the victim was the landlord of the property where Parris, a tenant, was located. The two parties were arguing before the physical confrontation, according to witnesses.

Authorities did not say what the two were arguing about before the stabbing.

Detectives are not seeking any other suspects in this case.

Parris was charged with first-degree murder and is being held on $800,000 bail.