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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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Former Kentucky FOP spokesperson pleads guilty to wire fraud

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Former Kentucky FOP spokesperson pleads guilty to wire fraud


LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – A former spokesperson for the Kentucky Fraternal Order of Police pleaded guilty Thursday to wire fraud after stealing thousands of dollars from the union and fellow officers.

Ryan Straw entered his plea at the Eastern District federal courthouse in Kentucky.

Straw was under investigation for embezzlement as of last November, according to a letter from the FOP board.

According to that letter, Straw convinced other officers to give him money for an investment club. That money was never invested. Straw was also suspected of taking funds from the lodge itself.

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The FOP gave Straw the chance to return the money, but he did not.

Straw previously conducted media interviews and spoke about police matters, including accountability issues at the state level.

He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Sentencing is pending.

Copyright 2026 WAVE. All rights reserved.



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Which Kentucky Derby horses are running in the 2026 Preakness Stakes?

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Which Kentucky Derby horses are running in the 2026 Preakness Stakes?


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Golden Tempo won the Kentucky Derby. He won’t be at the Preakness. And that’s becoming a familiar story.  

This marks the second straight year and the third time in five years that the Derby winner has decided not to compete in the Preakness Stakes despite having a healthy horse. The reason is almost always the same: two weeks isn’t enough time.  

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Trainer Cherie DeVaux made the call quickly after Golden Tempo’s dramatic last-to-first Derby victory on May 2.  

“Golden gave us the race of a lifetime,” DeVaux said in a statement. “We believe the best decision for him moving forward is to give him a little more time following such a tremendous effort.”

DeVaux and Golden Tempo are focused on the June 6 Belmont Stakes instead.  

The pattern is pretty clear.  

From 1997 to 2018, every Kentucky Derby winner ran the Preakness, keeping the Triple Crown path intact. That streak ended with Country House, who won the Derby on the disqualification of Maximum Security, was scratched from the Preakness. The sport has been wrestling with the question ever since. Maryland’s racing leaders have considered moving the Preakness one week later, from the third Saturday in May to the fourth, though no change has been made.  

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Of the 14 horses entered in the Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park on May 16, just three made the trip from Churchill Downs. None of them won the Derby. One nearly caused the biggest upset in recent memory.  

Ocelli (Post 2, 6-1)

The most intriguing Derby returnee. Ocelli finished third at 70-1 odds on May 2, giving trainer Whit Beckman and jockey Tyler Gaffalione a surprise ticket to Laurel Park. He was the lone maiden in the Derby field and remains a maiden heading into Saturday. Nobody expected him to be here.  

Incredibolt (post 12, 5-1)

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The morning-line co-favorite among Derby runners. Incredibolt finished sixth at Churchill Downs and trainer Riley Mott moved quickly to point him to Laurel Park. Jockey Jaime Torres won the 2024 Preakness aboard Seize the Grey. The connections believe the 1 3/16-mile distance suits Incredibolt better than the Derby’s mile and a quarter.  

Robusta (Post 4, 30-1) 

The longest shot of the Derby trio is Robusta, who finished 14th of the 14 in the Derby. The question with any horse coming back this quickly after a tough Derby is how much the race took out of him. At 30-1, it seems the market has answered that question.  



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Northern Kentucky man accused of abusing missing teen girl found at his home

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Northern Kentucky man accused of abusing missing teen girl found at his home


COVINGTON, Ky. (WKRC) – A Northern Kentucky man is in jail, accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl who’d been reported missing.

Matthew Wade, 40, faces charges, including sexual abuse, unlawful transaction with a minor and assault.

Covington Police say they found the teen at Wade’s home on Highway Avenue on Monday. According to the police report, he was knowingly hiding her, knew she was missing and had cut her ankle monitor off.

Investigators say the teen was given alcohol, marijuana and magic mushrooms.

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The girl told police wade slapped her and choked her.

Officers also say they found guns in the home.



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