King City 'axe murderer' sentenced to prison
KING CITY, Calif. - Kevin James Powell was sentenced to 76 years to life for a murder and an attempted murder from 2022, a Monterey County judge ruled.
Powell attacked a victim and his brother at a King City Motel 6 on Sept. 14, 2022, with an ax. The victims were standing outside their room talking while Powell parked nearby.
The victims were strangers to Powell and had no previous interaction. While the victims continued to speak with one another, Powell took out an ax from his car and suddenly attacked the pair.
One victim was able to escape with minor injuries, but the other tripped and suffered serious injuries from the attack and later died at the hospital.
Powell was convicted on Dec. 11, 2024, for first degree murder and first degree attempted murder. He also had a prior strike conviction for street terrorism.