One person was killed and four others — including a 14-year-old and a 4-year-old — were wounded in a shooting at Charles Young Park in Lexington on Aug. 15. Police responded to reports of gunfire on the 200 block of Midland Avenue at about 6:48 p.m.; five victims were taken to a nearby hospital and one later died. Authorities have not released the victim's identity or named any suspects as the investigation continues. Local officials and community leaders, including Gov. Andy Beshear and ONE Lexington director Devine Carama, have expressed condolences and urged anyone with information to come forward.
One Dead and Four Wounded — Including Two Children — in Lexington Park Shooting During Community Event
Police respond to shooting in Lexington, Ky. on Aug. 15.Credit: WHAS11
One person was killed and four others were injured — including a 14-year-old and a 4-year-old — after a mass shooting at Charles Young Park in Lexington, Kentucky, on Saturday, Aug. 15.
Shooting Details
Lexington police responded to reports of gunfire on the 200 block of Midland Avenue at about 6:48 p.m. local time. Officers found five people with gunshot wounds; all were transported to a nearby hospital. One victim later died at the hospital, while four others sustained injuries that Lexington police described as non-life-threatening.
Victims and Investigation
The identity of the person who died has not been released as the investigation remains active. Police have not publicly identified any suspects. Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Lexington Police Department to assist the ongoing investigation.
Officials' Response
"Before I continue, I do need to let y'all know we do have some tough news tonight. About a mile and a half from here, we've had a shooting actually since we started this dinner. We have five people that I think received injuries and probably have one deceased,"
— Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who announced the shooting while attending a nearby Democratic Party dinner at the Hyatt Regency.
Charles Young Park in Lexington, Ky.Credit: Google
Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers later said investigators did not believe there was an active threat to the public and asked residents to come forward with any information that could help the investigation.
Community Reaction
U.S. Rep. Andy Barr posted a message offering condolences to victims and the Lexington community. Devine Carama, director of ONE Lexington — a city initiative focused on reducing gun violence — said he was at the park during the shooting and described the scene as heartbreaking. In a Facebook post, Carama said a young man from ONE Lexington's summer program was killed and that another person close to him was shot while he tried to protect children during the incident.
Carama emphasized that the shooting occurred during a family-centered, annual Eastside community event, calling the violence "not normal" for the neighborhood.
The Lexington incident was reported the same day as an unrelated mass shooting in Virginia that injured several people.
Anyone with information about the Lexington shooting is asked to contact the Lexington Police Department or submit anonymous tips through local crime tip lines.
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