Masterson Station shooting leaves 17-year-old dead. Lexington police investigating

Christopher Leach
·2 min read

One person was killed in a shooting in Lexington early Friday morning, according to the Lexington Police Department.

Around 3:38 a.m. Lexington police received a report that a man had been assaulted by a firearm on the 2400 block of Rockaway Place in the Masterson Station neighborhood. Lexington police Lt. Joe Anderson said he was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries.

The victim later died at a hospital, police said Friday morning. The Fayette County Coroner’s Office identified him as 17-year-old Kenlon Johnson.

Johnson was pronounced dead at University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital at 4:21 a.m., according to the coroner’s office.

No information was provided about a suspect or what led up to the shooting. Police said detectives from the Personal Crimes Section are continuing to investigate.

Fayette County Public Schools’ Success Academy shared a Facebook post in which they said they were mourning “the loss of one of our own.”

“Words cannot express the depth of sorrow we feel at the passing of Kenlon,” the post stated. “His bright spirit touched the lives of many in the short time he was with us. His absence will be deeply felt in our school community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this difficult time. Let us come together to support one another as we cherish the memories of Kenlon. Rest in peace, dear friend.”

One person was shot and killed on the 2400 block of Rockaway Place in the Masterson Station neighborhood of Lexington, Ky. on March 8, 2024. The Fayette County Coroner’s Office will release the man’s identity after immediate family is notified.
One person was shot and killed on the 2400 block of Rockaway Place in the Masterson Station neighborhood of Lexington, Ky. on March 8, 2024. The Fayette County Coroner’s Office will release the man’s identity after immediate family is notified.
One person was shot and killed on the 2400 block of Rockaway Place in the Masterson Station neighborhood of Lexington, Ky. on March 8, 2024.
One person was shot and killed on the 2400 block of Rockaway Place in the Masterson Station neighborhood of Lexington, Ky. on March 8, 2024.

Anyone with information about the shooting is encouraged to call Lexington Police at (859) 258-3600. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers by calling (859) 253-2020 or visiting their website. Anonymous tips can also be submitted on www.p3tips.com.

This is the third homicide of 2024 in Lexington, the first in just over one month. At this point last year there was one reported homicide, according to police data.

In 2023 Lexington reported 24 homicides, fewer than the record-breaking year of 2022, when 44 killings took place. The last time Lexington reported 24 or fewer homicides in a year was in 2018, according to Lexington police data, which dates back to 2008.

In the past 10 years, the city has reported 24 or fewer homicides only three times, according to Lexington police records.

Herald-Leader staff writer Karla Ward contributed to this report.

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