Updated: Arrest made after vehicles exchange gunfire on major Lexington street
One man was charged after a crash on Tates Creek Road that was caused by an exchange of gunfire between two vehicles, Lexington police said.
The crash happened just before 4 p.m. Thursday in the area of Tates Creek and Rockbridge roads. No one was shot, police spokeswoman Brenna Angel said.
Joseph Ivy, 20, was arrested and charged with three counts of wanton endangerment, being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun, two counts of criminal mischief, fleeing police, evidence tampering and marijuana trafficking, Angel said.
Ivy was in a car on Tates Creek Road when he exchanged gunfire with people in another car, Angel said. The car Ivy was in hit another vehicle that wasn’t involved in the shooting, causing it to flip on its side. The second vehicle involved in the shooting fled the scene and wasn’t immediately located, Angel said.
Witnesses told police that Ivy got out of the wrecked car and fled the scene, Angel said. Police pursued Ivy on foot and apprehended him. He was taken to the Lexington-Fayette County Detention Center.
Dozens of shots were fired during the incident, Angel said, and two houses were hit with shots.
In home surveillance video shared with the Herald-Leader, about 20 shots can be heard before the sound of a crash. After the sounds of a crash, two more bursts of gunfire can be heard.
There were minor injuries caused by the crash, but no one was taken to a hospital, Lexington Fire Department Battalion Chief Jordan Saas said.
Police officials have previously said that the chances of the general public being victims of Lexington shootings are low because the gunfire usually occurs between people involved in a dispute or illicit activities. But moving vehicles exchanging gunfire can be especially dangerous for people with no connection to the confrontation.
“As we have seen several times, these shots can hit innocent bystanders and damage property,” Angel said.
This story was originally published January 14, 2021 at 5:29 PM.
