Key Takeaways
- A mass shooting at Charles Young Park during Lexington’s East End Days event killed 16-year-old Di’Zhon Robertson and injured four others, including a 4-year-old and a 14-year-old.
- An 18-year-old suspect has been charged with murder and multiple counts of assault and has pleaded not guilty.
- Depending on the circumstances, a civil investigation may examine the responsibilities of the event organizer as well as any public entities involved in the property or event.
Teen Killed, 4 Others Injured in Mass Shooting at Lexington’s Charles Young Park
Gunfire erupted at Charles Young Park just before 7 p.m. on Saturday, August 15, during the East End Days event, an annual gathering hosted by the East End Coalition that drew a large crowd to the historic downtown Lexington park, according to LEX 18. Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers confirmed five people were shot near the corner of Midland Avenue and East Short Street: two children, a 4-year-old and a 14-year-old, and two adults with non-life-threatening injuries, along with the teenager who later died.
The Fayette County Coroner’s Office identified the deceased victim as 16-year-old Di’Zhon Robertson, who died at 7:10 p.m. at the UK Hospital Emergency Room; his death was ruled a homicide, LEX 18 reported. Chief Weathers later said it was the city’s first homicide since early February, according to WEKU.
Devine Carama, director of the violence-prevention organization ONE Lexington, said he was standing roughly eight inches from the gunfire and described trying to shield several young people while bystanders performed CPR and helped carry an injured child to arriving paramedics, according to his statement carried by LEX 18. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council member Emma Curtis said the city activated its Emergency Mobilization Plan in response.
No arrest had been made as of Sunday afternoon, and a nonprofit organization offered a $5,000 reward for information, LEX 18 reported. Police announced Sunday night that 18-year-old Jametrius M. Griffin had been arrested, with his family coordinating a safe surrender, and charged with murder, two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault, and tampering with physical evidence, according to LEX 18. Griffin pleaded not guilty at a Monday video arraignment and is being held at the Fayette County Detention Center on a $1 million bond, with his next court date set for September 2.
Community leaders, including Robert Hodge of the William Wells Brown Neighborhood Association and Dawin Wingate of the East End Coalition, urged residents not to let the shooting drive people away from the park, which both described as a longtime gathering place and safe haven for neighborhood youth, according to WKYT. Hodge noted the surrounding East End neighborhood currently lacks a dedicated community center separate from the park itself. Around 100 people gathered at the Charles Young Center on Sunday for a prayer vigil, and the city made counseling resources available at the Dunbar Community Center that Monday.
What This Shooting Means for Negligent Security Claims
Charles Young Park is owned and maintained by the City of Lexington, a nationally recognized historic site tied to the city’s African American community since the 1930s.
Because the shooting happened on city-owned property during a community event, any legal review of what happened would likely examine the respective roles and responsibilities of the city and the event organizer, including who was responsible for security planning and what safety measures were required for East End Days.
Kentucky law, like most states, recognizes that property owners and event organizers who invite the public onto their premises owe visitors a duty of reasonable care against foreseeable harm. For a large, permitted public gathering, that can include coordinating adequate security or off-duty police presence proportional to expected attendance, clear plans for how staff or security would respond to an active threat, and adequate lighting and sightlines across the event area.
Claims involving a city or other government entity can be subject to different legal requirements and defenses than claims against private parties, making it important to determine early what rules may apply.
Key Factors in Evaluating a Potential Claim
Details that typically matter in evaluating whether a city or event organizer met its duty to protect people at a public gathering like this include:
- Whether adequate security or off-duty police presence was arranged for East End Days, proportional to the expected crowd size
- Whether the city or event organizers had any advance warning of a specific threat
- How quickly officers or security staff already in the area were able to respond once shots were fired
- Whether the park or a prior East End Days event had any documented history of violence that should have prompted additional precautions
- What procedures, if any, were in place for evacuating or securing the crowd once the shooting began
This is not an assessment of the City of Lexington’s or the East End Coalition’s handling of this specific event—that depends on facts that may emerge from a civil investigation. But when gunfire breaks out at a family event in a public park, it raises legitimate questions about whether the event’s security planning was adequate for the size and nature of the gathering.
Were You Injured in the Charles Young Park Shooting or a Similar Incident?
If you or someone you love was harmed in the shooting at Charles Young Park, or in any other violent incident at a public park, community event, or similar gathering, you may have legal options against the property owner, event organizer, or other responsible parties.
At Andreozzi + Foote, we represent victims of negligent security claims across Kentucky and the United States.
Our team can help you understand who may be responsible for the property or event where you were hurt, what deadlines apply to your claim, and what compensation may be available for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Every consultation is free and confidential.
Image sources: Charles Young Park,© Google, Google Maps. The alleged shooter, Jametrius M. Griffin, via Facebook.
