COVINGTON, Ky. -- Two men will be sentenced next month for a Covington homicide.
Randolph Hughes, 30, was gunned down in August 2014 in a drive-by shooting on East 13th Street.
Police arrested Erik Tucker, 23, and Reginald Ealy, 22, later that day.
At the time, the men denied any knowledge of the shooting before Tucker admitted to being the driver. He eventually named Ealy as the shooter, according to police.
When interrogated about the murder, Tucker told police that it “just had to happen.” Investigators eventually determined the shooting stemmed from a fight that had happened earlier.
Ealy told a judge that one of his friends was beaten and they thought the perpetrator was Hughes. It turns out that Hughes was in federal custody at the time and couldn’t have been involved.
Ealy and Tucker were eventually indicted on murder and three counts of wanton endangerment. Ealy pleaded guilty in return for a recommendation for a 30-year sentence.
Tucker opted for a jury trial and was found guilty on all counts this past week. The jurors recommended a 40-year sentence for Tucker.
Officials said Tucker and Ealy will have a final sentencing in December.
