Guilty plea entered before trial in 2019 Hancock Street shooting case

Trial had been set to begin against Dethaniel Thompson Monday morning, but instead he reportedly entered a guilty plea to second-degree assault.

Thompson had been accused of shooting 38-year old Leandre Watkins in the right leg in front of 402 Hancock Street in March of 2019—Thompson entered an ‘open plea’ in Christian Circuit Court Monday morning to second-degree assault, several counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, tampering with physical evidence, unlawful imprisonment and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.

An open plea is allowed on trial date and requires a guilty plea without a sentence recommendation by the Commonwealth, where the judge fixes the sentence after a hearing where both sides are allowed to argue about what sentence would be fair.

Sentencing is now set for November 10.