Kentucky Park Shooting Kills 1, Injures 4 Including Children
A shooting at Charles Young Park in downtown Lexington, Kentucky, on Saturday evening left one person dead and four others injured, including two children aged 4 and 14, according to AP News. The incident occurred during the annual East End Day community event, which featured a live band performance, and has prompted an active investigation by local authorities.
The Incident
Lexington police officers responded to reports of shots fired in the 200 block of Midland Avenue at approximately 6:48 p.m. Saturday, according to WKYT. The Lexington Fire Department was dispatched one minute later at 6:49 p.m. Five victims were located at the scene and transported to a local hospital, where one was pronounced deceased by the Fayette County Coroner’s Office. The other four victims—a 4-year-old, a 14-year-old, and two adults—sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Police Chief Lawrence Weathers confirmed there was no ongoing threat to the public but declined to release information about a suspect. “If you know somebody who might be inclined to use a weapon, please do anything you can do to let us know before something happens. Please let us know,” Weathers said at a press conference.
The City of Lexington issued an emergency mobilization plan at 7:24 p.m., declaring a police staffing emergency and instructing all Third Shift officers to report for duty. Midland Avenue remained blocked off to the public as of 9 p.m. Saturday as investigators processed the scene.
Community in Shock
Devine Carama, director of ONE Lexington—the mayor’s youth gun violence reduction program—was present at the park during the shooting and described the harrowing experience in a social media post. “My heart is broken. This evening we had a shooting at the park with multiple victims and one fighting for his life,” Carama wrote. “While trying to keep four young people covered and safe during the shooting, a person eight inches from me was shot tonight. It’s been 20 years since I’ve been THAT close to gunfire.”
Carama confirmed that the person killed was a participant in ONE Lexington’s summer program, adding that the shooting occurred at what was supposed to be a peaceful family gathering. “Opening fire into a crowd at a peaceful event, in broad daylight, with women and children present is unacceptable,” he said. “This is not normal. We come together every year as a family and kick it on the Eastside and we haven’t had something like this happen, EVER.”
According to LEX18, two retired Lexington firefighters—LV Hayden, a retired battalion chief, and Greg Gerton—performed CPR on shooting victims before emergency responders arrived.
Official Response
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear was speaking at the Kentucky Democratic Party dinner at a hotel approximately 1.5 miles from the park when he learned of the shooting. “Before I continue, I do need to let y’all know we do have some tough news tonight,” Beshear told attendees. “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.”
According to Fox News, Beshear also stated, “To stop mass shootings, we have got to elect Democrats that will actually do something about it.”
Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton released a statement Sunday morning expressing condolences and pledging a thorough investigation. “Our community is coming together to pray for those who were wounded yesterday, and for the young man we lost and his family and friends,” Gorton said. “We are more determined than ever to protect our young people, and to help them turn away from violence. Through One Lexington, we are organizing a trauma support event, and will announce details soon.”
U.S. Rep. Andy Barr also reacted on social media, saying, “My heart is with the victims, their families, and everyone in the Lexington community last night following the shooting at Charles Young Park.”
Broader Context
The Charles Young Park shooting was the fourth mass shooting in a 24-hour period across the United States, according to the New York Post. Other incidents included a shooting at Virginia State University that injured five people, a shooting spree in Michigan that left six dead including the suspected gunman, and multiple weekend shootings in Chicago.
Charles Young Park, named after Brigadier General Charles Young, a notable African American military officer, is a historic public park in Lexington’s East End neighborhood. The park has recently undergone improvements, including a new playground opened in 2021 and a splash pad, making it a popular gathering spot for families.
Investigation Status
As of Sunday morning, no arrests had been made and no suspect information had been released. Detectives are asking anyone with information to call Lexington Police at (859) 258-3600. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers at (859) 253-2020 or online at www.bluegrasscrimestoppers.com.
The investigation remains active and ongoing, with authorities urging the public to come forward with any information that could help identify those responsible for the violence that shattered a community celebration.