‘Justice for Daezon.’ Protesters shut down Richmond Rd. for motorcyclist killed in crash.

Protesters shut down part of Richmond Road on Tuesday night near the scene of a crash that killed a Lexington man on a motorcycle late Monday.

Daezon Tyquise Morgan, 25, of Lexington died from his injuries at University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital at 1:57 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Fayette County coroner.

Protesters said the driver of the vehicle that hit Morgan should be facing more severe charges in the case. Others expressed concern that the driver was initially able to leave jail before more serious charges were filed late Tuesday.

Matthew Patrick Starling, 30, the driver of the vehicle that hit Morgan’s motorcycle, was charged with second-degree manslaughter; he turned himself in to police late Tuesday after a warrant was issued following Morgan’s death, police said. Starling had been released from jail on an earlier aggravated driving under the influence charge filed after the Monday night collision. Tuesday night, he was in custody at the Fayette County Detention Center on an initial bond of $75,000, police said.

Tuesday evening, Sondra Morgan, the wife of Daezon Morgan, and others gathered to protest at Richmond Road and Preston Avenue. The demonstration grew as the gathering moved to the intersection with Chinoe Road, then marched through downtown Lexington to the police station on Main Street. Dozens of cars and motorcycles joined the protest downtown.

Downtown and police headquarters on Main Street have been the site of protests for 12 straight nights demanding greater police accountability.

“He was my everything,” Sondra Morgan said. “We wanted to come down here for justice, because this is the crime scene. We wanted to be here with him, for him. We just want justice. Justice for Daezon.”

Sondra Morgan said Daezon was a graduate of Tates Creek High School who inherited a passion for motorcycling from his dad and papaw. “We’re not ok. We are hurting. He was loved by everybody.”

Jordan Brewer said she had been friends with Daezon from middle school. She said she believes Matthew Starling should be charged with vehicular homicide rather than manslaughter. “Manslaughter’s not enough.” Manslaughter second degree is a Class C felony punishable by five to 10 years in prison, according to Kentucky Revised Statutes.

Protesters marched, took a knee and locked arms, and chanted “Say his name. Daezon Morgan.”

Tre’Von Petty was one of three other motorcyclists riding with Daezon Morgan Monday night.

He said they were coming inbound on Richmond Road after leaving the Hardee’s restaurant, and Petty had been leading the group. Just before the crash, Petty said he waved for Morgan to come around and lead them.

He said Starling didn’t slow down. “Not a stop, not a rolling stop, nothing.”

Starling admitted he had been drinking, according to police. He tried to make a left turn onto Preston Avenue from Richmond Road while the motorcyclist was traveling inbound on Richmond, police said.

An officer noticed “a strong odor of alcoholic beverages, slurred speech, bloodshot watery eyes” and “signs of impairment,” according to the arrest citation.

The wreck happened about 8:50 p.m. Monday, according to court records. Starling was taken into custody on the initial DUI charge just after 11 p.m., according to his arrest citation. The manslaughter warrant was signed by a judge at 2:10 p.m. Tuesday, according to a timeline provided by police. Starling turned himself in and was served with the warrant at 5:21 p.m., police said.

“The anger was that the guy was only charged with a DUI and let out on $3 bond,” said April Taylor, who has helped lead the protests. And she said a manslaughter charge is not enough. “It’s murder,” she said.

Police defended their investigation and the initial charges against Starling. In response to questions raised by protesters, police provided a list of other recent cases in which they said drivers had initially been charged in a similar way, with the charge later upgraded after further investigation.

“Collision Reconstruction investigations involve gathering a variety of evidence and information in order to build a thorough case file,” police spokeswoman Brenna Angel said in a news release. “The Lexington Police Department’s CRU process is consistent from case to case, but it is important to remember that each case involves many different factors.”

Taylor also said police gave Starling cigarettes and gum, which she said shows “the difference in the way officers treat white suspects and black suspects.”

“It’s the white privilege. It’s the double standard,” she said.

On Tuesday night, Petty vented his grief through the roars of his motorcycle engine.

“Brother never had an attitude. Never saw a frown,” he said. “He got cheated out of his life.”

A Gofundme account has been set up to help Morgan’s family..

This story was originally published June 10, 2020 at 12:19 AM.