Murder victim, man arrested allegedly argued before city's 11th gun homicide

Police have arrested and filed a murder charge against a 27-year-old Lexington man who allegedly argued with the victim in the city's 11th homicide of the year.

Police said Monday night that they had arrested Aramis Murray in connection with the fatal shooting of Jason Lemer Smith, 30, also of Lexington. Smith died at University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital about 9:15 p.m. Sunday.

Smith and Murray were acquaintances and were involved in an argument before the shooting, police said.

Police were called to the 300 block of Corral Street at about 8:30 p.m. Sunday for a report of about five shots fired, police Lt. Chris Dearinger said. When officers arrived they found Smith outside of a house.

Murray allegedly has been involved in previous arguments and confrontations, according to court records.

In November, Valerie Henderson sought court-ordered protection when she said Murray and his girlfriend "were verbally assaulting me and were coming toward me to attack me," according to court records.

"This is the 5th time this has happened and he has threatened my daughter, too," Henderson wrote in a petition for order of protection.

In February, Murray was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and criminal trespass for causing a disturbance at the Lexington Public Library. The police report said he became "irate and uncooperative," and that his "loud demeanor and use of profanity caused all patrons of the library on the fourth floor to stop what they were doing and turn in his direction."

If the city's pace of homicides continues the rest of the year, a new record will be set. The city had a record 28 murders last year.

In the last five years, the city hasn't accumulated 11 homicides until the summer months. In the first four months, the closest the city came to 2018's total was seven homicides by the end of April 2016.

Moreover, six of the 11 victims so far in 2018 were 21 and under. In all of 2017, six victims were 21 and under. In all of 2016, seven victims were 21 and under. An eighth victim had not been born yet when his mother was shot and killed.

Police said earlier nearly all of the homicides this year in Lexington were connected in some way to drugs.

This story was originally published April 23, 2018 at 8:24 AM with the headline "Murder victim, man arrested allegedly argued before city's 11th gun homicide."