Federal Indictment Filed Against Lexington Man Involved in Multiple Shooting Incidents

Lexington, Ky.–A Lexington man who was previously sentenced for charges related to a shooting and road rage incident in 2020 was indicted Thursday, February 16 by a federal grand jury for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Jason Eduardo Almanza-Arroyo, 19, is accused of knowingly possessing a Glock Model 19 Gen 5 pistol on September 8, 2022, in Fayette County, Kentucky, despite having been previously convicted of a felony.

Almanza-Arroyo had previously been sentenced to a total of 10 years in December for reduced charges he agreed to as part of a plea deal for a previous shooting and road rage incident that injured two people in April 2020. Almanza-Arroyo pleaded guilty to two charges of second-degree assault and two charges of first-degree wanton endangerment in that case.

According to court records, Almanza-Arroyo and a co-defendant, Juan Guerro-Zendejas, were involved in a shooting with two victims in April 2020 after a verbal altercation earlier that day. The victims attempted to lose Almanza-Arroyo and Guerrero-Zendejas, but the suspects pulled up alongside their vehicle and began shooting towards them. The suspects then rammed their Chevy Tahoe into the victims’ vehicle, causing it to hit a light pole, a tree, and a ditch. The victims sustained serious injuries and were trapped inside the vehicle.

Almanza-Arroyo and Guerrero-Zendejas were arrested approximately two months later but were released from jail after they each posted bond. Guerro-Zendejas was charged with two counts of first-degree assault and two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, and his case is still pending with a hearing scheduled for January.

In addition to the previous incident, Almanza-Arroyo also faces charges related to a recent shooting at an off-campus party near the University of Kentucky, which left 11 students injured. He faces 10 charges of second-degree assault, as well as charges of first-degree wanton endangerment, second-degree disorderly conduct, alcohol intoxication in a public place, and third-degree assault of a peace officer with non-communicable bodily fluid, according to court records. The case is currently awaiting an indictment decision by the grand jury.

If convicted of the federal firearm charge, Almanza-Arroyo faces up to 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. His case will be prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

Photo: A Glock 19 Gen5 pistol in 9x19mm Luger. (Glock)

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated when Almanz-Arroyo was previously sentenced on state charges. His sentencing was in December. His plea agreement was signed in August. He was out awaiting sentencing when the September shooting incident at UK occurred.