One person has died and four others were injured after a shooting broke out at Charles Young Park in downtown Lexington, Kentucky, on Saturday evening.
Lexington Police Department officers rushed to the scene shortly before 7:00 pm following multiple emergency calls reporting gunshots in the city center park. When police arrived, they located five individuals who had been struck by gunfire.
Emergency personnel transported one of the victims to a local hospital, where medical staff confirmed the person had died. The four other injured victims were also hospitalized, with police assessing that none of their injuries appear to be life-threatening.
Children among those wounded
According to reports from local news outlets, Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers confirmed that two children were among the five people shot during the incident. Chief Weathers stated that the injured children are 4 and 14 years old.
Chief Weathers did not disclose any details regarding a potential suspect or what may have led to the gunfire. However, he noted that based on evidence collected during the initial investigation, authorities do not believe there is an active or ongoing threat to the general public.
Investigators are continuing to gather evidence at the park and interview witnesses. Chief Weathers urged anyone who has information about the shooting, or who witnessed events leading up to it, to reach out to Lexington police.
Downtown Lexington setting
Charles Young Park is a prominent public recreational space situated in central Lexington along East Third Street. The park features community play areas, basketball courts, and open green space, serving residents across downtown neighborhoods.
The park is named in honor of Brigadier General Charles Young, a historic Kentucky-born African American military officer and diplomat. Lexington, located in Fayette County, is Kentucky's second-largest city and serves as the primary urban center for the state's Bluegrass region.
Police have asked members of the public with relevant video footage or tips to share them directly with law enforcement as detectives work to identify those responsible for the attack.
