Just weeks after his 18th birthday, Cole Bullock was killed in an act of violence that shook the community of Hillview, Kentucky. A student at North Bullitt High School, the young White man was remembered by his family as funny, chill, and laid-back. He loved fishing, riding four-wheelers, and playing video games. His death was a devastating blow to his family, particularly his older brothers Cam and Cayden, as they were still grieving the loss of their father just one year earlier.
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the early morning hours of Halloween, October 31, 2024, Cole left his home around 2:30 a.m. and got into a vehicle near the intersection of Hillview Boulevard and Norwood Way. Neighbors heard several gunshots, and soon after, Cole was found dead at the intersection. He had been shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene. His brother later described the attack as brutal, stating Cole had been shot seven times. The vehicle fled after the shooting, and the Hillview Police Department began a homicide investigation, initially stating they believed it was an isolated incident.
Nearly a month after the killing, investigators arrested a teenage boy and charged him with murder. Because the suspect was a juvenile, his identity was not released. Police indicated at the time that they believed others were involved and that their investigation was ongoing.
The case saw a major development almost two years later. In October 2026, three individuals pleaded guilty in a Bullitt County courtroom in connection with Cole’s robbery and murder. All three were minors at the time of the crime. Joe Ortiz, then 19, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and wanton endangerment. Jason Lannan, also 19, pleaded guilty to facilitation of murder and second-degree robbery. The youngest, 17-year-old Jaydn Molina-Holland, who acted as the getaway driver, pleaded guilty to three counts of wanton endangerment.
Cole’s family attended the hearing, expressing their anguish and stating that the plea agreements did not represent true justice for the brutal way Cole’s life was taken. His brother Cayden said, "My brother is gone. He'll never be able to walk on this earth or do anything again. And they're all able to live the rest of their lives." As of October 2026, the three defendants were awaiting their formal sentencing, which was scheduled for November 2026.
