Five shot in Lexington, Kentucky, park, leaving one dead - NBC News

An 18-year-old was arrested after five people were shot, one fatally, during summer festivities at a downtown Lexington, Kentucky, park Saturday evening, according to police. Jametrius M. Griffin was arrested based on allegations of murder, assault and tampering with evidence, Lexington police said late Sunday. Details on a possible motive were unavailable. Griffin was being held without bond, according to Fayette County Detention Center inmate records. It’s not clear if he has legal counsel. The state’s public defender’s office, the Department of Public Advocacy, did not immediately respond to a request for comment overnight. Among those injured in the Charles Young Park shooting were a 14-year-old and a 4-year-old, along with two adults with non-life-threatening injuries, Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said, according to NBC affiliate WLEX. Weathers told reporters Sunday morning that a number of witnesses have come forward to provide information. “A lot of incidents like this that we deal with are not random,” Weathers said. “We don’t have any indication that this one is random, and therefore we don’t see that the community is at any wide threat.” Authorities identified the deceased victim as 16-year-old Di’Zhon Robertson. Mayor Linda Gorton asked the community to pray for the wounded. She added that those affected would be able to access free mental health resources at the Dunbar Community Center on Monday afternoon. “What happened was traumatic for many of you, and you may be struggling with what you saw, what you heard or what you experienced,” Gorton said. “It is important, as the chief said, that we all come together as a community and support one another.” Devine Carama, a gun violence prevention advocate in Lexington, said he was at the event when the shooting broke out. He said he was covering four young people while he watched someone just inches away from him get shot. Carama leads the ONE Lexington city program against gun violence and was with city officials Sunday. He urged residents to take advantage of the mental health resources. He also urged the community to stand together in the face of gun violence. “This is not a political issue. I know it’s an election year, but this ain’t about politics. This is about humanity. This is about our neighbors,” he said. “And so, my message to the community is: Do not let voices out there divide us, and in instances like this, we are always better together.”