Lexington man accused in shooting at UK fraternity party pleads guilty to amended charges

A Lexington resident who was involved in the investigation into the shooting on University Avenue that injured 11 University of Kentucky students has accepted a plea deal in connection with the incident.

Jason Almanza-Arroyo, 20, was charged with 10 counts of second-degree assault and other crimes after he fired a shot in September 2022 that injured 11 people. One person was injured by a bullet and 10 others were hit by shrapnel and debris. According to court records, a shot was fired.

Other charges included wanton endangerment, public intoxication, disorderly conduct, assault on a police officer and felon in possession of a handgun.

Court documents show that Almanza-Arroyo waived further proceedings and pleaded guilty on Monday.

The plea agreement will dismiss 15 of his 30 original charges and amend seven of them to misdemeanors.

He faces six years in prison for second-degree assault, two years for two counts of wanton endangerment and one year for seven amended counts of second-degree misdemeanor.

His sentence will be announced on July 26.

What happened the night of the shooting

According to Officer Greg George of the Lexington Police Department, who previously testified, on September 7, 2022, police responded to the 200 block of University Avenue for a report of a shooting with a victim.

Police reported that one shot was fired in the basement of the house.

British officials previously said the shooting victim was a student. Ten other people who were injured were also students.

None of the injuries were life-threatening.

According to a British spokesman, the party was organized by the Theta Chi fraternity.

A second defendant, Juan Guerrero-Zendejas, was also arrested in the case. He was charged with falsifying physical evidence, illegal possession of a forged instrument, resisting arrest, escaping from the police and public intoxication.

Court documents show Guerrero-Zendejas pleaded not guilty. His case is pending.

British officials previously said the arrested suspects were not students and were not invited to the party.