Man sentenced in WKU student’s death
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – One man has been sentenced in the death of Ayanna Morgan, a 21-year-old Western Kentucky University student.
Morgan died July 24, 2023 after a reported struggle occurred at The Muse apartment complex the night prior, according to authorities.
The Bowling Green Police Department confirmed upon arrival that night, officers located Morgan with a gunshot wound. She was later transported to an area hospital before being flown to a Nashville trauma center, where police confirmed she died the next morning.
Thirty-three-year-old Malik Jones pleaded guilty in December 2025 to second-degree manslaughter and tampering with physical evidence, according to court records, after an initial murder charge was amended to manslaughter.
On Monday, Jan. 2, court records state Malik Jones was sentenced to a total of 15 years.
Malik Jones’ brother, 33-year-old Malcolm Jones, was sentenced in January to 12 months in the case on a charge of fourth-degree assault, amended down from an original charge of complicity to murder, according to court records. Malcolm Jones’ 12-month sentence is part of a total 10-year sentence combined with additional cases, court records state.
In addition, court records say 27-year-old Kobee Lancaster faces multiple charges in the case, including two counts of complicity to tampering with physical evidence, two counts of second-degree hindering prosecution or apprehension and one count of leaving the scene of an accident – failure to render aid or assistance.
Lancaster is scheduled for a jury trial on May 13, 2026, court records state.
