A young aspiring rap musician from Joliet died Thursday, five days after he was shot in the head at a recording studio, officials said.

Charges against Alexander Moore, 18, of Joliet were expected to be upgraded to murder in the shooting of Kyle D. Parnell, 19, officials said. Parnell was shot about 2 a.m. Saturday in a second-floor recording booth at the I Eat U Eat Sound Lab, 343 Ruby St.




Deputy Chief Patrick Kerr would not discuss a motive for the slaying Thursday, saying only, "This shooting had gang overtones, but neither the victim nor the suspect are known gang members."

Earlier this week, Kerr said Parnell, a former athlete and band member at Joliet Central High School, was targeted because he was more interested in music than being involved in gang life. Parnell's mother is an employee in the Will County state's attorney's office, officials said (this sentence as published has been corrected in this text). She could not be reached for comment.

Moore, of the 200 block of Fairbanks Avenue, had been charged with attempted first-degree murder in the shooting and was ordered held in lieu of $5 million bail Tuesday. A 16-year-old boy has been charged with two counts of concealing or aiding a fugitive and one count of obstructing justice.

Kerr described Moore as a "business associate" of Parnell's but would not elaborate.

Parnell was pronounced dead at about 7:30 a.m. Thursday at Provena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, Will County Coroner Patrick O'Neil said. An autopsy revealed he died of a single gunshot wound, O'Neil said.

After the shooting, Kerr said he was surprised to learn there had been seven service calls to the recording studio in 2007, including reports of shots fired, a stolen vehicle and a domestic disturbance.

Friends say Parnell was a promising rapper, who went by the name "K-Nell." He admired Kanye West, a Grammy-winning rapper from Chicago, and he hoped to be the next Chicago-area musician to make it big as an artist and producer.

Tranell "Trabeats" Sims, a Joliet music producer, said he had been working with Parnell on his first album. Parnell was passionate about making music and died doing what he loved, Sims said.

"He rapped about having fun," Sims said. "He liked making energetic music, the stuff that makes you feel good."

Parnell played drums for a short time for his high school's band, said Mike Fiske, band director at Joliet Central. Sims said Parnell was also on the football team before leaving to be home schooled.

Sims remembered how the chubby-cheeked rapper challenged him to a "beat battle" over the summer at the recording studio where he died.

"He wanted to be the best at what he did," Sims said. "He really wanted to be something."

Minor-Morris Funeral Home in Joliet will handle services.