No one expected Ky’Andrea Cook, just 18, to be sentenced to 20 years in prison—not her, her mother, her lawyer, or even the prosecutor, who had waived mandatory sentencing in hopes of leniency.
Cook had pleaded no contest to charges of carjacking and battery after setting up a fake sexual encounter that turned into a robbery by her boyfriend. A 17-year-old was shot during the incident, and the shooter hasn’t been caught.
Believing she’d get probation or house arrest, Cook was blindsided by the harsh sentence. Her attorney claims she was misled into thinking she wouldn’t face prison time and is now seeking to withdraw her plea.
The courtroom erupted in heartbreak as her mother collapsed in tears, followed by Cook herself. The emotional moment, captured on video, quickly went viral—sparking conversations about justice, youth, and race.
