In the summer of 2025, a young woman's hope for a new beginning in Louisville, Kentucky, was tragically cut short. Amia Nicole Cox, a 22-year-old female, was found shot to death on July 7, 2025, in a residence in Shively, a city within the Louisville metro area. She was not alone; another woman, 26-year-old Sontia R. Simmons, was also discovered at the scene, a victim of the same violent act.
Both women were pronounced dead from gunshot wounds.
Originally from Oklahoma, Amia had relocated to Louisville to start a new chapter in her life. She was a student at Velvatex College of Beauty Culture and a mother of two. Her family remembered her as someone with an infectious, loud laugh who cared deeply for her younger siblings. She had plans to return to Oklahoma and live a peaceful life with her children.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly focused on a single suspect: 35-year-old LaBradford Ward. Police identified him as the person responsible for the deaths of both Amia and Sontia, and a warrant was issued for his arrest on charges of murder, including domestic violence murder, and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon. Authorities warned that Ward was to be considered armed and dangerous and began a search for him.
The manhunt for LaBradford Ward concluded nearly a week after the killings. On July 14, 2025, he was found deceased near a cemetery in Louisville. His death was the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, bringing a somber end to the search for the man authorities believed was responsible for the deaths of Amia Cox and Sontia Simmons.
