On the night of September 30, 2019, in Frankfort, Kentucky, 19-year-old Xavier 'X' Cochrum, a Black/African American male, was fatally shot in an incident that authorities later described as a drug deal that had taken a violent turn. The events unfolded at a residence on Menominee Trail, where Cochrum and two companions, Ezavion Peyton and Patrick Greenlee, had arranged to purchase marijuana from 18-year-old Elijah T. Amburgey.
Accounts of the transaction varied, but the situation escalated into a physical altercation.
According to reports, a dispute arose during the drug deal, leading Amburgey to retrieve a handgun and open fire. As Cochrum and his friends attempted to flee, he was struck by three bullets—one in the chest and two in the back. Peyton was also wounded, sustaining a gunshot to his arm, while Greenlee managed to escape unharmed. First responders found Cochrum in the backyard, and he was rushed to Frankfort Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Elijah Amburgey was quickly identified as the suspect and was arrested. He was initially charged with murder, first-degree assault, and first-degree wanton endangerment. Amburgey reportedly admitted to investigators that he fired the weapon not in self-defense, but because he felt he had been disrespected.
In January 2022, Amburgey entered into a plea agreement, pleading guilty to the amended charges of second-degree manslaughter and second-degree assault. As part of this agreement, the wanton endangerment charge was dismissed. The Commonwealth recommended a 10-year sentence, though he faced a maximum of 20 years in prison. A subsequent attempt by Amburgey to withdraw his guilty plea in February 2022 was denied by a Franklin Circuit Court Judge.
