A Hamilton County man convicted of shooting and killing his unarmed neighbor has been sentenced to 24 years to life in prison, according to Judge Jennifer L. Branch.
Cole Hornsby, 26, was found guilty by a Hamilton County jury in January of two counts of murder and felonious assault, as well as one count of tampering with evidence, according to court records.
Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich issued a statement following the sentencing:
“I appreciate the judge’s careful consideration of this case and decision to impose the maximum allowed sentence, as my office requested. This was a tragic and preventable killing. Ted Block should be alive today. While no sentence can bring him back, this ensures the community will be safe from Cole Hornsby for as long as possible.”
The shooting took place in April 2024 in Hornsby’s neighborhood on Kilby Road in Whitewater Township. Deputies from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office claim they responded to a call and discovered Theodore Block, 40, dead on the ground, with Hornsby standing next to him.
According to the affidavit, Hornsby approached Block, and the two men began arguing. Hornsby was armed. Block wasn’t, according to court records.
Hornsby instructed the victim, “Take this b—-,” and proceeded to pull a gun and shoot Theodore Block multiple times, according to a sworn statement from a sheriff.
Hornsby then hid the gun in his shed, according to prosecutors in a court filing known as the “Bill of Particulars.”
Krissy, Block’s wife, told FOX19 NOW in an interview shortly after her husband’s murder that she was one of the witnesses. Krissy Block and her husband were watching their grandchildren on the night he was killed. She claimed her husband told Hornsby to put the pistol away, but as Block approached their home, Hornsby shot him.
Hornsby’s counsel had urged the court for a two-year sentence. They contended that the court abused its discretion by allowing evidence from a prior conviction during the two-week trial.
Prosecutors contended that Hornsby’s right to a speedy trial was not violated and that a two-year sentence was inappropriate.
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