Three people were taken to the hospital where one died after shots were fired in Fayette Mall around 4:00 Sunday afternoon. The deceased was identified by the Fayette County Coroner as 17-year old Kenneth Bottoms Jr. The two other victims, "a 41-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl, suffered non-life-threatening injuries" according to Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers. Weathers said it appears the shooting was an isolated incident that stemmed from a verbal altercation between Bottoms and one suspect. The other victims are believed to be uninvolved bystanders.
A witness who was shopping at Bath and Body Works said she heard arguing and turned to see a group of young men throwing punches. The manager of the store called mall security but before they could arrive, a gun was pulled. The witness who asked not to be identified, said one person fired at another “point-blank. He held it up at face level and he shot four shots off.” She and a friend took shelter with employees at the back of the store. Hundreds of shoppers fled the mall or hid while employees locked down businesses until police arrived to lead them to safety.
Chief Weathers said the investigation is ongoing and asks anyone who may have witnessed anything to please contact Crime Stoppers at 859-253-2020 or on-line at http://www.lexingtonky.gov/submit-anonymous-tipif you wish to remain anonymous. You can also contact the Lexington Police Department at 859-258-3600.
Nicholasville Road had to be shut down for several hours and patrons who weren’t able to get to their cars to leave stayed in LexTran buses outside of Olive Garden waiting for family or friends to come and pick them up. The mall will reopen on schedule and cars that were left overnight can be retrieved today.
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