Two men shot; police shut down Red Mile Road for hours
Lexington police investigating the shooting of two men blocked off a portion of Red Mile Road and surrounded a townhouse where they believed the suspect might be on Thursday night.
The situation began when officers were called to a Shell station at 930 South Broadway at about 8:30 p.m. for a report of a 22-year-old with a gunshot wound, said Lexington police Lt. Jackie Newman.
At about the same time, an 18-year-old male who had been shot five times in the chest arrived by private vehicle at St. Joseph Hospital, Newman said. He was transported to University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital and was in critical condition, Newman said just after 11 p.m.
The man who was found at the Shell had been shot in the back and was taken to UK as well. He was in surgery and in serious condition, Newman said.
The investigation led officers to a stretch of Red Mile near Unity Drive, where they believed a possible suspect was barricaded on the third floor of a townhouse. WKYT reported that police subsequentially entered the home and found no one inside.
A gun was found outside, Newman confirmed.
She said police were investigating the possibility that the two men who were shot were involved in a robbery at the townhouse. She said they did not live there.
“We still haven’t accounted for two of the people who live here,” Newman said.
She said police were “trying to establish communication” with anyone who might be inside.
Officers escorted residents of a neighboring town home out of the area, and officers approached the home in riot gear.
This is not the first time a shooting has occurred in the area in recent weeks.
Nathaniel McNealy, 18, of Louisville died Oct. 1 after being shot at a large party at the same townhomes on Unity Drive where police are investigating.
Newman said there was no reason for police to believe the cases were connected but the investigation was ongoing.
Karla Ward: 859-231-3314, @HLpublicsafety
This story was originally published October 20, 2016 at 10:15 PM with the headline "Two men shot; police shut down Red Mile Road for hours."