Police charge man with murder of 35-year-old Lexington woman
A 35-year-old woman was shot to death in Lexington’s fifth homicide of 2020, and a 21-year-old has been charged with murder and robbery in the case, Lexington police said Friday.
Crystal Howard of Lexington died at 11:33 p.m. Thursday, according to the Fayette County coroner.
On Friday night, police announced that U.S. Marshals took Joseph M. Gonzalez, 21, into custody Friday afternoon in Shelbyville.
Gonzalez was being held in the Fayette County Detention Center on charges of murder, first-degree robbery and two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment in connection with Howard’s death.
Officers began investigating after they were summoned to the 400-block of Shaftsbury Road for a report of a “person down,” a police press release stated.
Howard may not have been shot where she was found. Investors were working to determine where she was shot, said police spokeswoman Brenna Angel.
The city’s five homicides so far this year follow a record 30 last year. Howard is the second woman killed in 2020.
Police are encouraging anyone with information related to the contact the department at (859) 258-3600. Anonymous tips can be sent through Bluegrass Crime Stoppers at (859) 253-2020 or on their website.
This story was originally published February 21, 2020 at 7:58 AM.