In a quiet residence on Hollow Creek Drive in Lexington, Kentucky, the life of 44-year-old Cornelius Allen was tragically cut short on February 7, 2022. Responding to a report of shots fired that afternoon, police discovered Allen inside a home, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was rushed to the University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital, but his injuries proved fatal.
The investigation swiftly led to the arrest of a suspect, 17-year-old Ahtraivaon Jenkins.
Jenkins was initially charged with murder, possession of a handgun by a minor, and tampering with physical evidence. He contended that the shooting was an act of self-defense, alleging that Allen, who was significantly larger, had been the aggressor. Jenkins claimed he had gone to Allen's apartment to assist someone with moving out when the confrontation occurred.
Despite this claim, a judge denied a motion to dismiss the case based on Kentucky's 'stand your ground' law. Subsequently, Jenkins entered into a plea agreement. The murder charge was amended to second-degree manslaughter, and the tampering with physical evidence charge was dropped by a grand jury. He pleaded guilty to the manslaughter charge and to the possession of a handgun by a minor.
In July 2023, Ahtraivaon Jenkins, by then 19 years old, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the death of Cornelius Allen. Before his sentencing, Jenkins expressed remorse to Allen's family, stating that his actions were not intentional and were a result of trying to get Allen to 'leave me alone, get off of me.' The court ordered his 10-year sentence for manslaughter and a concurrent 12-month sentence for the handgun charge to be served at the same time.
