On the tumultuous night of May 31, 2020, in Davenport, Iowa, a 22-year-old biracial woman named Italia Marie Kelly was fatally shot as she was leaving a protest. The demonstration, one of many across the nation following the death of George Floyd, had turned unruly, prompting Kelly and a friend to depart. It was in the process of getting into a vehicle to go home that she was struck by a bullet.
Italia, who had just finished her shift at a local restaurant before joining the protest, was
hit in the back. The bullet traversed through her shoulder and chest, and she was pronounced dead at a local hospital after attempts to resuscitate her were unsuccessful. Her family described her as a vibrant and cheerful person who was passionate about standing up for her beliefs. In the immediate aftermath, her sister emotionally expressed her grief and anger, initially believing a protestor had fired the shot that killed her sister.
The investigation into Kelly's death led to the arrest of 21-year-old Parker M. Belz. In a surprising turn of events, Kelly's family revealed that they knew Belz; he had been a friend of Italia's younger sister for years. Belz was charged with first-degree murder. The criminal complaint stated that he acted with premeditation, malice aforethought, and the intent to kill when he fired the gun that struck Kelly.
Ultimately, Parker Belz entered an Alford plea to a reduced charge of attempted murder. This plea allowed him to maintain his innocence while acknowledging that the prosecution had enough evidence to likely secure a conviction. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the shooting death of Italia Marie Kelly and is required to serve a minimum of 17 and a half years before being eligible for parole. He was also ordered to pay restitution to Kelly's family.
