MAN TO BE SENTENCED ON MURDER, FLEEING OR EVADING POLICE, OTHER CHARGES FOLLOWING GUILTY VERDICT
\nFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
\nErran Huber
\nPublic Information Officer
\nO: (502) 595-2300 | ext. 3118
\nC: (502) 234-4311
\nehuber@prosecutors.ky.gov<\/p>\n
COMMONWEALTH VS. KAELIN DENZAQ AKINS
\nJEFFERSON CIRCUIT COURT CASE NO. 21CR2795<\/p>\n
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (9\/26\/2025): Louisville\u2019s Chief Prosecutor, Commonwealth\u2019s Attorney Gerina D. Whethers, shared today that following a jury trial, KAELIN DENZAQ AKINS was found guilty on Thursday, September 25, of multiple felony criminal charges. He was also determined by the jury to be a Persistent Felony Offender in the Second Degree. A formal sentencing hearing has been scheduled for November 20, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. in Jefferson County Circuit Court, Division Four.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe agree with and appreciate the jury\u2019s recommendation that this defendant stay behind bars for good for his convicted crimes,\u201d said Commonwealth\u2019s Attorney Gerina D. Whethers. \u201cThis defendant was found not only responsible for taking someone\u2019s life, but also for putting the greater community in danger while fleeing from police. I\u2019m grateful for the hard work of our prosecutors, who had a lot of dots to connect on this case in securing this outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n
The following is the full prison sentence recommended by the jury for KAELIN DENZAQ AKINS. The judge in this case will make the ultimate determination of his sentence in accordance with both the jury\u2019s recommendations and established sentencing law:<\/p>\n
Murder: Life
\nPossession of a Handgun by Convicted Felon: 20 Years (enhanced penalty)
\nFleeing or Evading Police in the First Degree (Motor Vehicle): 10 years (enhanced penalty)
\nFleeing or Evading Police in the Second Degree (Pedestrian): 6 months<\/p>\n
All sentences were recommended to run consecutively.<\/p>\n
The defendant is not eligible for probation or shock probation.<\/p>\n
The jury found AKINS guilty after hearing witness testimony and evidence of the following:<\/p>\n
On November 1, 2021, Mr. Ousmane Ndaw left his home at approximately 12:28 a.m. in a white Toyota Prius and met up with the defendant at S. 17th and Gallagher Streets. The defendant, while armed with a handgun, got into the passenger’s side of the Prius, and the two men headed south on 17th Street. At approximately 4:34 a.m., Ousmane Ndaw was located in an alley behind Dumesnil Street with a single gunshot wound to the head. Mr. Ndaw was obviously deceased at the time of discovery.<\/p>\n
On November 3, 2021, the defendant was operating Mr. Ndaw’s Toyota Prius. When officers attempted a traffic stop, the defendant fled at a high rate of speed. After a vehicle pursuit, the defendant got out of the car and led officers on a foot chase until he was apprehended. At the time of apprehension, the defendant was in possession of the handgun used to murder Mr. Ndaw. The defendant is a convicted felon and was on parole in case number 14CR1292 at the time of these offenses.<\/p>\n
Assistant Commonwealth\u2019s Attorneys Milja Zgonjanin and Eric Jenkins were the prosecutors on this case.<\/p>\n
The work on this case reflects the office\u2019s aggressive pursuit of the first of Attorney Whethers\u2019 2025 G.R.A.C.E. in the Community public safety goals: Gun safety. G.R.A.C.E. in the community also includes Roadway safety, the pattern of Abuse of drugs and narcotics in our communities, embracing Community and collaborative stakeholders, and efforts to Educate our youth and share more insights about our laws.<\/p>\n
The Office of the Commonwealth\u2019s Attorney (30th Judicial Circuit) aggressively prosecutes felony, major, and violent crimes and is committed to the ethical and fair pursuit of justice. For more information on the Office\u2019s dedication to public safety, visit louisvilleprosecutor.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MAN TO BE SENTENCED ON MURDER, FLEEING OR EVADING POLICE, OTHER CHARGES FOLLOWING GUILTY VERDICT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Erran Huber Public Information Officer O: (502) 595-2300 | ext. 3118 C: (502) 234-4311 ehuber@prosecutors.ky.gov COMMONWEALTH VS. KAELIN DENZAQ AKINS JEFFERSON CIRCUIT COURT CASE NO. 21CR2795 LOUISVILLE, Ky. (9\/26\/2025): Louisville\u2019s Chief Prosecutor, Commonwealth\u2019s Attorney Gerina D. Whethers, … <\/p>\n