Trial for man accused of killing KY lawmaker’s daughter moving to new county
Two cases involving Central Kentucky homicides moved through the court system in January as defendants were sentenced or granted a trial in another county.
Developments included a man in Madison County custody whose murder trial will be moved to Shelby County, and a man sentenced to manslaughter for a 2023 homicide.
Here are updates on court cases previously covered by the Herald-Leader.
Gilday trial moved to Shelby County
The trial of a man accused of killing a former state lawmaker’s daughter during a deadly home invasion in Madison County will be moved to Shelby County due to media publicity.
Shannon Gilday, 25, faces charges of murder, assault, three counts of attempted murder, burglary and criminal mischief for the 2022 home invasion. He’s accused of killing Jordan Morgan, a 32-year-old lawyer and daughter of former state lawmaker C. Wesley Morgan, while she was asleep in her bed.
Madison Circuit Judge Cole Adams Maier ordered the trial be moved in a Jan. 22 ruling.
Maier said in her order that the trial should be moved because significant media coverage of the case could be prejudicial to Gilday.
Maier said the Morgan family is also well-known in Madison County, which could further influence a jury.
“Based on the record, the Court finds a reasonable likelihood that seating an impartial jury in Madison County would be impaired by pervasive community familiarity with the events and individuals involved,” Maier wrote.
Gilday’s defense has filed several motions to further restrict a jury once they are selected.
In a motion filed Jan. 30, Gilday’s attorneys requested that the jury be banned from all social media, internet access, and even the use of dictionaries, while in trial.
Gilday’s next hearing is scheduled for March 20. His trial is scheduled for May 1. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.
Man sentenced to amended charge of manslaughter
A 28-year-old man charged with murder in a 2023 homicide was sentenced for a lesser charge.
Luquan Hayes was charged after Lexington police say he shot 24-year-old Devon Dockery Jr. in December 2023.
Fayette Circuit Judge Diane Minnifield sentenced Hayes to 10 years in prison Jan. 9, according to court documents.
Hayes pleaded guilty to an amended charge of second-degree manslaughter, according to court records filed Nov. 3.
The shooting happened Dec. 27, 2023, in the 500 block of Pemberton Street. Police found Dockery shot inside a vehicle, and 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.
Cellphone records showed Dockery and Hayes spoke over the phone about 50 minutes before the shooting. The two communicated for several weeks before the shooting, too.
