Carmen pleads guilty to manslaughter in teens’ deaths

Published 5:51 pm Friday, May 8, 2020

The third alleged shooter in a 2018 incident that resulted in the death of two 16-year-old girls pleaded guilty to manslaughter Thursday.

Matthew Alexander Carmen, 25, agreed to a 20-year sentence for all charges from the November 2017 shooting outside an apartment building on East Washington Street.

According to court documents, Carmen pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree manslaughter, one count each of first-degree wanton endangerment and tampering with physical evidence.

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The agreement calls for Carmen to serve 15 years for each manslaughter count, which will run concurrently. It also calls for five years for tampering and wanton endangerment, which will run concurrently with each other but consecutive to manslaughter for a total sentence of 20 years.

His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 3.

Two other participants in the shooting, Ronnie Ellis and Denzel Hill, previously pleaded guilty to facilitation to commit murder, tampering with physical evidence and first-degree wanton endangerment and received 20-year sentences as well.

The remaining shooter, Darian Skinner, is due to appear in Clark Circuit Court May 21.

The four allegedly participated in a shootout on Nov. 7, 2017, outside an apartment building. Winchester Police said the shooting stemmed from a verbal altercation earlier in the day, which included the two victims.

Police said Mikaela Buford drove Skinner, Hill and Ellis to the apartment building that night. Witnesses said the three got out of the car, fanned out and started shooting. Carmen returned fire from an upstairs apartment.

The two victims, Adrianna Castro and Kayla Holland, were shot as they left an apartment and were caught in the crossfire. Both died from their injuries.

Buford later pleaded guilty to facilitation to commit murder, complicity to first-degree wanton endangerment. Her sentencing hearing was continued until July 2.

About Fred Petke

Fred Petke is a reporter for The Winchester Sun, the Jessamine Journal and the State Journal. His beats include cops, courts, fire, public records, city and county government and other news. To contact Fred, email fred.petke@bluegrassnewsmedia.com or call 859-759-0051.

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