Lexington police investigate fatal shooting after body found on Christmas

A man found dead on Christmas was the city’s 28th homicide of the year, tying a record, according to an update Thursday from Lexington police and the Fayette County coroner.

Police were called about 1 p.m. on Christmas about a possible dead person at Crystal Gardens Apartments on Alexandria Drive, Lt. Chris Van Brackel said. When police arrived, officers found the body inside an apartment, Van Brackel added.

Bertin Garcia-Jimenez, 23, died of a gunshot wound, according to the Fayette County coroner’s office.

Police canvassed the building on Christmas day hoping to learn more.

It’s the same apartment complex where 24-year-old Marquis Harris and 25-year-old Sharmaine Carter were found dead in October. A Detroit man, 43-year-old Antonio Gaskin, was charged with their murders.

Garcia-Jimenez’s death ties the 2017 record for homicides in a year. On Christmas Eve, 21-year-old Jonathan Meristil was found shot and killed inside an apartment on Transylvania Park near the University of Kentucky campus.

Anyone with information related to the shooting 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.

This story was originally published December 25, 2019 at 4:32 PM.