Lakeland, Fla-(Newsradio 970 WFLA)-It's the first murder of the year in Lakeland. Police say it happened when a verbal argument between friends got ugly.
Police say 66 year-old Jessie Banks, Junior, was having a heated dispute with Tommy Lee Engram in the 400 block of West 7th Street. Officers say Banks pulled out a knife during the disagreement and stabbed Engram in the neck. Engram fell to the ground and died a short time later.
Officers later found Banks and have charged him with 2nd degree murder. Police say Banks has a prior criminal history including 13 felonies and 8 misdemeanors.
Investigators say Banks and Engram had been friends for 30 years.
Photo courtesy Lakeland Police