An ex-Fort Riley soldier will appeal his first-degree murder conviction next week to the Kansas Supreme Court.

Daniel Parker was sentenced to life in prison in October 2013 for the death of a 21-year-old Frederick Beverly at a Manhattan clubhouse. Prosecutors say a bullet fired from Parker’s M4 rifle ricocheted off a metal fence and hit Beverly at a New Year’s party in 2012.

Prosecutor Barry Disney said Parker was charged with first-degree murder because Kansas law allows it a felony act is inherently dangerous, even there is no intent to kill anyone.

Parker said he was intoxicated during the shooting but Riley County District Court Judge David Stutzman said voluntary intoxication was not a defense.

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Associated Press Information from: The Manhattan Mercury