Lexington terminates probationary police officer after accidental shooting

A Lexington probationary police officer was terminated Tuesday after he admitted he accidentally discharged his personal handgun, shooting someone in the finger.

On Sunday, officer Nickolas Edge told police that the weapon discharged. The bullet struck another man, injuring his finger.

When Edge returned to work on Tuesday, his first shift since the incident, he was immediately terminated by Chief Lawrence Weathers, police said.

Edge, who first started with the department in April 2019, was still a probationary officer. That means that Weathers can terminate Edge without having to go through the typical disciplinary process.

Lexington police said no charges are expected to be filed against Edge.

This story was originally published August 13, 2020 at 5:08 PM.

Beth Musgrave

Lexington Herald-Leader

Beth Musgrave has covered government and politics for the Herald-Leader for more than a decade. A graduate of Northwestern University, she has worked as a reporter in Kentucky, Indiana, Mississippi, Illinois and Washington D.C. Support my work with a digital subscription