01/05/2002 - Report #354 - Victim: Howard Edwin Kirby Jr - Location: Granite City, IL

MCS Report #354

Classification: Homicide

Requesting Agency: Granite City Police Department

Date of Activation: 01/05/2002

Commander and Department: Capt. Richard Schardan, Granite City PD

Deputy Report Officer and Department: Det. Sgt. John Lakin, Madison County Sheriff’s Dept

Victim: Howard Edwin Kirby Jr

Suspect: Ryan Matthew Parker

The Granite City Police Department requested the assistance of the Major Case Squad in investigating the death of Howard Kirby. At approximately 2:14pm, police officers responded to Floral Original Designs (2862 Madison Avenue) for a report of a man down and bleeding. There they located the owner and florist, Howard Kirby Jr (age 48) lying on the basement floor. He had been shot and was pronounced dead on scene,

As a result of this investigation, Ryan Parker (age 24) was charged with 1st Degree Murder and Armed Robbery. He was arrested on a no-bond warrant.

Parker faced additional criminal charges in Sparta, IL for a murder that occurred there.