Man charged in Kansas City park attack that left another person in critical condition

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KCTV) — A man has been charged in connection with an attack in a Kansas City park near the Power & Light District that left his victim in critical condition.

Documents filed in Jackson County, Missouri District Court show that Luke Hudspeth, 62, of Kansas City, Missouri, was charged on Saturday, September 7, with an assault that occurred the day before at Oppenstein Brothers Memorial Park.

Just after 2:05 p.m. Friday, Kansas City police say they were called to the area between 12th and Walnut St. near the Power & Light District for a report of a cutting. While en route, officers were told that a group of construction workers had chased and arrested the suspect, later identified as Hudspeth.

Investigators said Hudspeth was arrested without incident, but the victim was found with a large stab wound to the chest and taken to University Health in critical condition.

Witnesses reported that they were working as road workers in the area when they witnessed the altercation. Two witnesses were able to record the incident on their phones.

The videos showed Hudspeth approaching a victim who was sitting at a table in the park. Investigators said he was in a defensive position. Hudspeth was holding an umbrella in one hand and a knife in the other.

As the argument escalated, according to court documents, the victim picked up a folding chair that was nearby and swung it at Hudspeth to restrain him. Hudspeth then pushed the victim to the ground and began hitting him while waving the knife around. He put the knife in his left hand and handed it to an unidentified man wearing a red hat.

From the video it can be seen that the unknown man threw the knife into the garbage in the middle of the park.

According to court documents, when investigators attempted to question Hudspeth, he immediately requested an attorney. The victim could not be interviewed because he had not yet regained consciousness.

Hudspeth has been behind bars in Jackson County since Thursday and is required to post $50,000 cash bail. He is scheduled to appear for a bail review hearing on Tuesday, September 17 at 10 a.m. and again for a preliminary hearing on October 9 at 1 p.m.

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