Lexington's first fatal shooting of 2009 resulted from mishandled firearm

Herald-Leader staff report

Lexington's first fatal shooting of 2009 happened when the new year was just a few hours old.

Police were called to 329 Southpoint Drive a little after 3 a.m. Thursday. They found a white male who was dead from a gunshot wound.

The victim was later identified by the Fayette County Coroner's office as Robert J. McAlpin, 27. He had been shot in the head.

Stephen J. Wigginton, 28, of Lexington, was arrested and charged with second-degree manslaughter. He had called 911 to notify police of the shooting, Lt. James Curless said.

Police said that Wigginton and the victim were friends "who were mishandling a firearm which resulted in this incident."

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