News Summary
Kyshawn Owens has pled guilty to second-degree manslaughter in connection with the fatal shooting of Chadwick Boone at Brothers Bar and Grille in Lexington. The charges were reduced from murder. Owens, also guilty of being a felon in possession of a handgun, admitted to tampering with evidence as security footage revealed the incident. As he awaits sentencing, related cases also highlight complexities in the justice system regarding guilty pleas for violent crimes involving mental health considerations.
Lexington Man Pleads Guilty to Second-Degree Manslaughter in Bar Shooting Case
Lexington, KY – Kyshawn Owens, a Lexington man, has pled guilty to second-degree manslaughter following the shooting death of Chadwick Boone at Brothers Bar and Grille in February 2024. The plea comes after the charge was reduced from murder, and Owens has also admitted guilt to being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun and a persistent felony offender. As part of the agreement, the charge of tampering with physical evidence was dismissed.
Detective Jeremy Atkins testified during the proceedings, revealing that security footage depicted Boone and Owens arriving at the bar together and interacting amicably before a fight broke out. According to Atkins, he witnessed Owens shoot Boone during the subsequent altercation. Following the incident, detectives received a tip from police in Ohio indicating Owens’s whereabouts.
Additional security footage showed Owens discarding a bag into a river at the Greyline bus station in Cincinnati before he purchased a ticket to New York. He was eventually arrested in New York in June 2024. Owens is scheduled for sentencing in Fayette County Circuit Court on Wednesday morning.
Related Cases
In a separate case, Robert Earley McKissic, age 34, also pled guilty to reckless homicide after a hung jury could not reach a verdict in his murder trial concerning the 2017 shooting death of 51-year-old Anthony Carter. McKissic was sentenced to five years for the reckless homicide and an additional year for being a persistent felony offender, making a total of six years in prison. He received credit for nearly four years already served. While McKissic did not speak at his sentencing, legal representatives suggested that he accepted the plea deal after discussions with jurors indicated confusion during the initial trial.
Impact statements from the family of the victim, Anthony Carter, were submitted before sentencing, underscoring the emotional toll of Carter’s death on their lives. The prosecutor highlighted the outcome as a reflection of juror confusion in the previous trial, while McKissic’s attorney stated that reaching a plea deal facilitated a quicker release for him after prolonged incarceration.
Other Recent Pleas
Nikki James has also recently accepted a plea agreement regarding the stabbing deaths of her two children, with original murder charges reduced to second-degree manslaughter. Expert testimony indicated that James was experiencing psychosis at the time of the incident. Prosecutors are recommending a 10-year sentence on each count of manslaughter, with the sentencing hearing set for June 28, 2024.
Additionally, Larry Walters, age 73, accepted a plea deal concerning a shooting at Uncle 7’s Bar in 2019 that resulted in the death of 68-year-old James Terry. Originally charged with murder, first-degree assault, criminal mischief, and multiple counts of wanton endangerment, Walters had two counts dismissed as part of his plea agreement. Following a mistrial motion that was sustained, Walters remains in custody at the Fayette County Detention Center, awaiting sentencing scheduled for August.
Conclusion
The string of guilty pleas in these high-profile cases reflects the complexities of the justice system, as defendants navigate charges that range from murder to manslaughter. As these individuals face their sentences, the impact on the families of the victims resonates deeply within the community.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Lexington Police Investigate Shooting on Lenny Court
Lexington Police Investigate Shooting Incident on Lenney Court
Second Teen Charged with Murder in Lexington Shooting
Kentucky Supreme Court to Hear No-Knock Warrant Ban Arguments
Lexington Police Arrest Multiple Suspects in Homicides
Three Charged After Shots Fired and Stolen Vehicle Found in Lexington
Rose & Jim’s Bar and Grill: A Community Resilient Through Tragedy
Teen Charged with Double Murder in Wisconsin
Police Officer Injured in Pottstown Standoff
Kentucky Residents Struggle with Healthcare Access and Costs
Additional Resources
- WKYT: Plea Deal Reached in Lexington Murder Case
- Kentucky.com: Lexington Crime News
- WYMT: Plea Agreement in Lexington Crash Case
- Lex18: Man Accepts Plea Deal in Lexington Bar Shooting Case
- Kentucky.com: Recent Crime Updates
- Wikipedia: Criminal Law
- Google Search: Lexington Crime News
- Google Scholar: Plea Deals in Criminal Law
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Plea Bargaining
- Google News: Lexington Kentucky Crime
