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University of Kentucky frat party shooter sentenced, other Fayette Co. court updates

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University of Kentucky frat party shooter sentenced, other Fayette Co. court updates


Court cases stemming from several deadly incidents in and around Central Kentucky neared their ends in July as defendants received their prison sentences.

These developments include a Lexington man sentenced for a 2022 shooting at the University of Kentucky fraternity party, as well as a man convicted of reckless homicide for a fatal shooting outside of a party.

Here are updates on court cases previously covered by the Herald-Leader.

Man charged in UK frat shooting sentenced

A Lexington man at the center of a shooting investigation on University Avenue that left 11 University of Kentucky students injured was sentenced to nine years in prison.

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Jason Almanza-Arroyo, 21, was sentenced on July 26, for charges of second-degree assault, multiple counts of second-degree wanton endangerment, and first-degree wanton endangerment. He was ordered by Fayette Circuit Judge Kimberly Bunnell to serve nine years in prison and $4,000 in restitution.

He pleaded guilty to amended charges on June 10, according to court documents.

Almanza-Arroyo was originally charged with 10 counts of second-degree assault and other offenses after he allegedly fired a shot that injured 11 people in September 2022. He was 19 at the time of the shooting.

One person was wounded by the bullet and 10 others were hit by shrapnel and debris from the shot, according to court records.

Other charges included wanton endangerment, public intoxication, disorderly conduct, assault on a police officer and felon in possession of a handgun.

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Man sentenced for after reckless homicide convicted

A Lexington man found guilty of reckless homicide for his involvement in the death of a man he admittedly shot outside a party in 2022, was sentenced to prison earlier this month.

Woody LaPierre, 31, was charged with murder in connection with the death of a 25-year-old Nigerian man, Adetokunbo “Tomi” Okunoye. LaPierre’s trial concluded in early June.

Court testimony revealed LaPierre and Okunoye were at a party together the night of the shooting, and the two men were alleged to have engaged in a verbal argument before shots rang out.

LaPierre’s testimony painted Okunoye as the main aggressor in the dispute and he tried to scare off Okunoye multiple times before firing the fatal shot from a gun he didn’t know was loaded. LaPierre said Okunoye was bigger than him and afraid he could inflict serious physical injury on him.

A jury recommended a sentence of five years for LaPierre. Fayette Circuit Judge Dianne Minnifield upheld the jury’s suggestion at a sentencing hearing on July 12.

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Man pleads guilty to amended charges in 2017 homicide

A third suspect involved in a shooting that killed a Lexington man in 2018 has pleaded guilty to amended charges and is now awaiting sentencing.

Garren Anderson, 23, pleaded guilty earlier this month to complicity to manslaughter, attempted murder, robbery, burglary, and tampering with physical evidence. He faces a recommended sentence of 17 years, according to court documents.

Anderson is one of five suspects charged in connection to the death of 29-year-old Charles Shryock, who died from a gunshot wound in 2017.

Anderson originally faced 17 charges in connection to Shryock’s death, including complicity to murder, attempted murder, two counts of complicity to robbery, complicity to burglary, fleeing police, tampering with evidence, buying or possessing drug paraphernalia, giving false information, and criminal mischief.

As part of his plea deal, five of his charges were dismissed and two were amended, according to court documents. His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 18.

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Mississippi man convicted of manslaughter sentenced for crimes

A Mississippi man convicted of second-degree manslaughter by a jury on July 11 was sentenced to 10 years on July 15.

Bobby Hubbard, 24, was originally charged with murder for allegedly killing Doricky Harris at a Coolavin Apartment on West Sixth Street in September 2022.

But a jury found Hubbard guilty of a lesser charge, manslaughter, after defense attorneys argued it was a case of self-defense.

Harris’ girlfriend, Jada Richardson, testified at trial she called Hubbard and told him Harris had assaulted her and fired shots earlier that day. Richardson allegedly asked Hubbard to come pick up her and her child and take her to her sister’s house in Georgetown, fearing for her safety.

Richardson told Hubbard to come armed, Whitney Kirk, Hubbard’s attorney, said.

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When Hubbard arrived he was told Harris was armed and dangerous, according to Kirk. He went to Richardson and Harris’ apartment to retrieve baby formula and a car seat while legally armed with a gun. When Hubbard entered the residence, his attorneys claimed he was attacked by Harris.



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June unemployment rate shows slight increase in Kentucky Center for Statistics latest report

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June unemployment rate shows slight increase in Kentucky Center for Statistics latest report


Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted preliminary June 2026 unemployment rate was 4.7%, according to the Kentucky Center for Statistics. The preliminary June 2026 jobless rate was up from the 4.5% reported in May and up 0.1 percentage points from one year ago. The U.S. seasonally adjusted jobless rate for June 2026 was 4.2%, which was down from…



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Saturated soil raises flooding risk across Kentucky after recent heavy rain

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Saturated soil raises flooding risk across Kentucky after recent heavy rain


LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – Recent heavy rainfall has left soil across the state completely soaked, contributing to localized flooding in some areas.

When rain falls, some water soaks into the ground through a process called percolation.

Soil can only hold a limited amount of water. Once the small air spaces within the soil fill with water, the ground becomes saturated and additional rainfall has nowhere to go.

Soil type plays a role in how quickly water drains.

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Much of Kentucky has clay-heavy soil, which is made up of very small, flat particles packed tightly together.

That composition makes it harder for water to move through. In clay soil, water may drain at a rate of only 0.02 to 0.17 inches per hour.

When rainfall comes down faster than the ground can absorb it and water cannot drain into a stream or storm drain quickly enough, it begins to build up.

That buildup is what leads to localized flooding.

Copyright 2026 WKYT. All rights reserved.

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Cyclosporiasis spreads across Kentucky

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Cyclosporiasis spreads across Kentucky


BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – Cyclosporiasis is a microscopic parasite that can contaminate food and water — is making people sick across several states, including Kentucky.

Dr. Patricia Tellez-Watson said, the illness is caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis and spreads when someone ingests contaminated food or water. “It is an intestinal infection caused by this water-borne, food-borne microscopic parasite,” she said.

Symptoms can include diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

Tellez-Watson said, cases are often sporadic, but outbreaks can happen — especially during hot, wet months, when the parasite can survive in the environment long enough to become infectious.

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Health experts recommend taking extra precautions with food and water. Washing hands and thoroughly rinsing produce before eating or cooking can reduce risk.

Watson also urged people to be cautious with fresh produce, particularly pre-packaged items, and to consider using bottled water.

Officials have confirmed cases in Bowling Green, though it’s unclear how many.

Copyright 2026 WBKO. All rights reserved.



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