Lexington man faces 10 years for manslaughter, plus other Fayette Co. court updates
Three cases involving Central Kentucky homicides moved through the court system in November as defendants were sentenced or pleaded guilty to crimes.
Developments included a Lexington man whose murder charge could be dismissed, and a woman who was sentenced for her part in a fatal car crash.
Here are updates on court cases previously covered by the Herald-Leader.
Murder charge amended to manslaughter
A 28-year-old man charged with murder in a 2023 homicide pleaded guilty to an amended charge.
Luquan Hayes was charged after Lexington police say he shot 24-year-old Devon Dockery Jr. in December 2023.
Hayes pleaded guilty to an amended charge of second-degree manslaughter, according to court records filed Nov. 3.
A judge could sentence him to 10 years in prison at his sentencing scheduled for Jan. 9, 2026.
The shooting happened Dec. 27, 2023, in the 500 block of Pemberton Street. Police previously said they found Dockery shot inside a vehicle. He died at University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital.
Court documents say Hayes was spotted on surveillance footage at a grocery store wearing a white, bubble-style coat, black toboggan, light-colored pants and white shoes roughly 37 minutes before the shooting. Video evidence also showed Dockery picked up Hayes on Chestnut Street a few minutes before the shooting.
Surveillance footage from homes on Pemberton Street showed the vehicle pulling to the side of the road, followed by multiple muzzle flashes from the passenger’s side inside the vehicle, according to court documents.
Video evidence then showed Hayes, wearing the same clothing description that was seen at the grocery store, getting out of the vehicle and fleeing toward East Sixth Street.
Dockery’s vehicle was not in park, and it rolled forward until it hit another car after the shooting, according to court documents. No one else entered or exited the vehicle until police and fire personnel arrived on scene.
Cellphone records showed Dockery and Hayes spoke over the phone about 50 minutes before the shooting, according to court documents. The two had a pattern of communication several weeks beforehand as well.
Murder charge could be dismissed for 2024 shooting
A man charged with murder could have his charge dismissed after he pleaded guilty to lesser offenses during an October hearing.
Shawn Blanks, 55, was charged with murder and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon in connection with the death of Maurice Elliott.
But the murder charge against Blanks could be dismissed, according to a guilty plea filed Nov. 4.
Blanks appeared in court Oct. 31 and pleaded guilty to charges of possession of cocaine and theft of identity without consent. According to court documents, his murder charge and felon in possession of a handgun charges could be dismissed at his sentencing.
Elliott, 63, was shot just before 2 p.m. Dec. 26, 2024, outside a laundromat in the 400 block of Newtown Pike. He later died at a hospital.
Detectives used the real-time intelligence center and Fusus cameras to identify Blanks, according to police.
Blanks was arrested in January. He faces three years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Dec. 5.
Woman sentenced in fatal hit-and-run
A woman charged with fleeing the scene of a fatal crash that left a 44-year-old woman dead was sentenced Nov. 12.
Olivia Fouts, 29, pleaded guilty to a count of leaving the scene of an accident with death or serious physical injury, according to court records.
At her sentencing, a judge ordered her to serve a 1 1/2-year prison sentence and pay $3,500 in restitution.
Fouts is accused of hitting Anna Kolokotsas, 44, with her BMW SUV in November 2023 on North Broadway. Kolokotsas died at University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital.
Fouts’ arrest citation says she immediately “failed to stop and ascertain the extent of” Kolokotsas’ injuries after the collision.
The collision happened two blocks from where Kolokotsas was visiting family members, according to her obituary. Kolokotsas loved taking walks, her family wrote in the obituary.
