One person was killed and four others were wounded, including two children aged 4 and 14, in a mass shooting at Charles Young Park in downtown Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday evening, prompting a large police response and renewed calls for action on gun violence.
The shooting occurred around 6:45 p.m. during an outdoor community event known as East End Day at the park near Midland Avenue. Lexington police responded to reports of gunfire and found five victims, four of whom sustained life-threatening injuries. The victims include two adults and two children, ages 4 and 14. No arrests have been made and no suspect has been identified.
Lexington police said there is no ongoing threat to the public, though several surrounding roads were closed as officers continued their investigation through the evening. Details about the deceased victim and a possible suspect have not been released.
Governor Beshear Responds
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced the shooting while attending a Kentucky Democratic Party dinner at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Lexington, approximately a mile and a half from the scene. “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.”
The shooting has drawn outrage from community leaders, including Divine Carama, co-founder of the city’s gun violence prevention initiative One Lexington, who witnessed the shooting firsthand while attending the park event.
“My heart is broken. This evening we had a shooting at the park with multiple victims and one fighting for his life. While trying to keep 4 young people covered and safe during the shooting, a person 8 inches from me was shot tonight. Opening fire in a peaceful event, broad daylight, with women and children present is unacceptable!”
Carama urged the community to allow the investigation to proceed. “To the loved ones of today’s victims, please let things run its course! Justice will be served,” he wrote on social media.
Fourth Mass Shooting in 24 Hours
The Lexington incident was the fourth mass shooting in the United States within 24 hours, according to the New York Post. It came one day after six people, including the suspect, were killed in a mass shooting near Cadillac in northern Michigan’s Missaukee County, and hours after five people were shot at Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia.
The shooting at Charles Young Park, a public green space in Lexington’s East End neighborhood, marks a violent end to what had been a community gathering organized to bring residents together. Authorities continue to investigate and have urged anyone with information to contact the Lexington Police Department.
Sources: WKBN; Hindustan Times; New York Post; AP News
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