2 charged in shooting that killed 2-year-old, the fourth juvenile killed in 2 months

A 2-year-old girl who died after a home robbery early Tuesday was the fourth juvenile to be killed by gun violence in Lexington in the last two months.

Lexington Mayor Jim Gray began Tuesday’s city council work session with a moment of silence for Nova Marie Gallman, who died hours after being shot in her home on Kenton Street. The mayor said the city and police are doing everything they can to reduce gun violence and they are looking at ways to get more community input.

Two suspects in the overnight shooting that killed Nova were arrested after they sought hospital treatment for gunshot wounds they suffered during the shooting, according to Lexington police.

Marquis D. Thurman, 20, of Georgetown and Adrian L. Dunn, 20, of Lexington have each been charged with two counts of assault and one count of robbery, according to police. The charges might be upgraded as “evidence is examined and additional information is obtained,” police said.

Just after 11 p.m. Monday, Thurman and Dunn knocked on the door of a house in the 400 block of Kenton Street where a woman, her child and her 27-year-old boyfriend were sitting in the living room, police said. The two are accused of entering the house and demanding money from the woman’s boyfriend. There was a fight before several shots were fired, injuring the boyfriend, the child and the intruders, who fled.

Nova was taken to University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital, where she died at 4:22 a.m., according to the Fayette County Coroner’s Office.

The boyfriend was taken to a hospital in stable condition, police said.

It does not appear that Nova was shot on purpose, Lexington police Lt. Albert Johnson said.

There was an exchange of gunfire, but investigators haven’t determined how many guns were used, how many shots were fired and who was shooting, Johnson said. The names of the boyfriend and the mother were not released. The boyfriend knew Thurman and Dunn, police said.

Gray called Nova’s death and the recent shooting deaths of three other juveniles “sad, tragic and heartbreaking.”

Nova is the fourth juvenile killed by gun violence in the past two months in Lexington. Angel Juarez, 14, was shot multiple times on Thanksgiving night when he answered his door on Henton Road. Kevin Garcia, 23, allegedly had a beef with Angel’s brother. Garcia was charged with murder.

David Fletcher Jones, 17, was shot in the head Nov. 18 in the basement of a house on Honey Jay Court near Tates Creek High School. He was with four others, one of whom, a juvenile, was charged with murder.

Olympian Tyson Gay’s daughter, Lafayette High School student Trinity Gay, 15, was shot Oct. 16 in the parking lot of Cook Out restaurant on Harrodsburg Road. Four men — Dvonta Middlebrooks, Chazerae M. Taylor, D’markeo C. Taylor and Lamonte A. Williams — were charged with wanton endangerment.

Nova’s death was the 23rd murder of the year in Lexington.

Anyone with information related to the Kenton Street case is asked to call police at 859-258-3600.

Anonymous tips, including photos and videos, can be submitted by texting LEXPD plus the tip to 274637. Information can also be sent anonymously through Bluegrass Crime Stoppers at 859-253-2020 or Bluegrasscrimestoppers.com.

A Gofundme page was set up Tuesday to raise money for Nova’s funeral expenses.

This story was originally published December 6, 2016 at 8:02 AM with the headline "2 charged in shooting that killed 2-year-old, the fourth juvenile killed in 2 months."