August 24 UPDATE #2
Lexington Police have charged a man with murder in connection with Sunday’s shooting that happened at Fayette Mall. Investigators arrested Xavier Hardin, 19, Monday evening.
Hardin is charged with Murder and two counts of Assault 1st. He is lodged in the Fayette County Detention center.
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August 24 UPDATE
Lexington Police continue to investigate a fatal shooting that occurred Sunday at Fayette Mall.
The Fayette County Coroner’s Office has identified the deceased as 17-year-old Kenneth Bottoms, Jr. of Lexington. The two other victims, a 41-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl, suffered non-life threatening injuries.
At this time it appears the shooting was an isolated incident stemming from a verbal altercation between the shooter, Bottoms, and other individuals. The incident involved a single suspect who fired shots at Bottoms and then fled the scene. The two other victims are believed to be uninvolved bystanders.
Two people associated with Bottoms who were at the mall at the time of the shooting have been arrested and charged with Tampering with Physical Evidence. They are Nasir Lyons and Cion Townsend, both 18-years-old.
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August 23, 2020 - One person has died following a shooting that happened Sunday afternoon at Fayette Mall.
Lexington Police were called to a shooting inside the mall around 4 p.m. Sunday, August 23. Three people were shot near the Bath & Body Works store. Based on the preliminary investigation, this case does not appear to be a random shooting and it is possible the suspect and deceased victim knew each other.
Many officers, including off-duty personnel, responded to the scene to assist with the ongoing investigation. Following the shooting, the mall was placed on lockdown, and then mall patrons and employees were evacuated. The Emergency Response Unit and Canine Unit searched and cleared the facility.
The Fayette County Coroner’s Office will release the deceased victim’s name pending notification of next of kin.
Police continue to actively investigate this shooting. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Lexington Police by calling (859) 258-3600. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers by calling (859) 253-2020, online at www.bluegrasscrimestoppers.com, or through the P3 tips app available at www.p3tips.com.
Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
