‘He brought love and light to our school.’ Passenger, 22, dies after Lexington shooting.

Lexington police were searching Friday for a man who they say shot and killed a 22-year-old passenger in a car Thursday in Lexington.

Demarkus “Spice” Hill, 31, has an active warrant for murder following the incident that occurred around 4:45 Thursday in the 400 block of Hollow Creek Road, Lexington police said. Hill allegedly approached a car and fired multiple shots, at least one of which hit Darius Bolden, 22, police said.

Bolden was taken to University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital, where he died at 6:03 p.m., according to the Fayette County coroner.

Police said the driver of the vehicle was uninjured and drove to a home on Radcliffe Road. Hill allegedly fled on foot following the shooting.

Rachel Louise Mills, a former educator at Bryan Station High School, wrote on Facebook that Bolden was an outstanding student in her class.

“He was sharp-minded and aced test days needing no fanfare,” Mills wrote. “He was so calm to be around and always gave me a smile when class got rowdy but never got in trouble himself. I’m terribly sad to hear his life ended far too soon. He brought love and light to our school and Station Nation.”

Bolden is also a father who recently had a daughter. A friend wrote on Facebook, “More babies that have to grow up without their father.”

The homicide is the 21st this year in Lexington, which is one fewer than the city had in 2019. It came just a month after two 18-year-olds died in a brazen daylight attack on a car at the intersection of busy Winchester Road and Seventh Street on Oct. 19. Dwayne Slaughter and Darrian Webb also died at UK after the shooting.

Anyone with information about Hill’s whereabouts is asked to contact Lexington Police. Anonymous tips, including photos and videos, can be submitted by texting LEXPD plus the tip to CRIMES (274637). Information can also be provided anonymously via Bluegrass Crime Stoppers at (859) 253-2020 or www.bluegrasscrimestoppers.com.

This story was originally published November 15, 2019 at 7:49 AM.