A Hopkinsville man has entered a guilty plea to manslaughter stemming from a shooting at a Logan County party nearly two years ago.
According to the Bowling Green Daily News, 22-year-old Jaquavon Poindexter entered the plea Thursday in Logan County Circuit Court.
Poindexter is charged with shooting 20-year-old Joshua Burks of Clarksville during an April 13, 2022 field party on Kenny Stratton Road in Olmstead. The altercation that led to the shooting reportedly stemmed from a vehicle collision involving Burks and people associated with Poindexter, who claimed that he felt the need to protect himself when Burks approached his group.
Despite the possibility of a self-defense strategy at trial, Poindexter chose to plead guilty after consulting with his attorney, Chris Woodall.
The prosecution argued that Burks was not an immediate threat to Poindexter’s life or safety at the time of the shooting. The investigation into Burks’ death was conducted by Kentucky State Police, with Detective Graham Rutherford’s affidavit implicating Poindexter as the shooter.
Poindexter’s brother, De’Carlos Poindexter, and Laotis Buckley were also involved in the incident, with Buckley facing charges related to hindering prosecution. De’Carlos Poindexter is charged with complicity to commit murder and wanton endangerment.
After conducting interviews with witnesses and examining evidence at the scene, the police determined that Jaquavon Poindexter was the one who fired the fatal shot that killed Burks. Additionally, Buckley was accused of firing a firearm 11 times, resulting in three shots hitting Burks’ vehicle. Court records said the state police received information suggesting that the shell casings found at the crime scene could be linked to a firearm seized on September 6, 2022, during a traffic stop by Hopkinsville Police involving De’Carlos Poindexter.
Initially charged with complicity to commit murder, Buckley later pleaded guilty to first-degree hindering prosecution and was given pretrial diversion as a sentence. However, following Buckley’s arrest on new charges in January in Hopkinsville, the Logan County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office has taken steps to revoke Buckley’s pretrial diversion.
Poindexter potentially faced 20 years to life in prison without parole if convicted of murder, but prosecutors will recommend a 15-year sentence in prison. The sentencing is scheduled for April 18.
