Fayette Mall Shooting Still Under Investigation

Panic and confusion was the scene yesterday afternoon at the Fayette Mall in Lexington. For many patrons, what started out as a normal shopping trip quickly escalated into a traumatic ordeal after gunshots rang throughout the building.

Lexington Police Sgt. Donnell Gordon says that the shooting occurred around 4 p.m. Sunday in the central area of the mall near the Bath and Body Works store. The shooting fatally wounded one victim and injured two others passing by.

The Fayette County Coroner’s Office identified the victim earlier today as 17 year-old Kenneth Wayne Bottoms, Jr. Bottoms was transported to the UK Medical Center shortly after the shooting, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 6 p.m.

Gordon tells us that investigators think that the suspect and Bottoms knew each other, and that a dispute between the two lead to the shooting. The two additional victims who also suffered injuries during the shooting were not linked to either victim or suspect.

Lexington Police took two individuals connected to the shooting into custody on Monday. Nasir Lyons and Cion Townsend were arrested and charged with Tampering with Physical Evidence.

Gordon says that the public can provide an anonymous tip to the Lexington Police Department through their website or through the Bluegrass Crime Stoppers phone line at (859) 253-2020.