Updated: Fayette County schools mourn students’ deaths after double homicide
The children killed in a double homicide off Rogers Road in Lexington Monday evening were Fayette County Public Schools students, according to announcements made by school district officials Tuesday.
Skyler Williams, a 5-year-old Mary Todd Elementary student, and Deon Williams, a 13-year-old Winburn Middle School student, were killed Monday in an incident in the 400 block of Rogers Road, according to Lexington police and the Fayette County Coroner’s office. Police were called to the area and found three people suffering injuries. All three were taken to a hospital. The Lexington Fire Department said the altercation was a “cutting/stabbing” incident.
Police said the children’s mother, Nikki James, 43, has been charged with two counts of murder, and other charges are pending.
“We are heartbroken over the tragic deaths of Skyler and Deon Williams,” said Fayette County Superintendent Demetrius Liggins. “Skyler and Deon brought joy and light to their teachers and classmates and we ask our community to uplift all those touched by this unimaginable loss.”
Winburn Middle School Principal Mike Hale informed families that Deon, a seventh grader at the school, died suddenly Monday. The Fayette County Coroner’s office confirmed Tuesday that Williams was a victim in the double homicide. Hale wrote in the letter that Williams had a contagious smile and was a valued member of the Winburn family.
“With a beautiful smile and contagious laugh, Deon has been a valued member of the Winburn family since he joined us in sixth grade,” Hale wrote in the message.
“He loved school, his teachers and his friends,” Hale wrote. “He will be deeply missed by all those that knew him.”
At Winburn Middle, friends and teachers said Deon embodied the warrior power and spirit of the school. A kind young man who was a friend to all and a helper to his teachers, Deon always tried his best and his positive attitude was contagious, Liggins said Tuesday afternoon.
Deon enjoyed writing and drawing and was involved in many school activities, including Saturday comic workshops, where he came out of his shell and created characters and stories where good always triumphed over evil, Liggins said.
Classmates and teachers at Mary Todd Elementary remembered Skyler as a bright and independent little girl who was excited about going to kindergarten next year. She loved to draw and play with her friends and delighted in sharing stories about her day. Skyler was eager to learn and was always one of the first students to arrive at school and greet her teachers with hugs, Liggins said.
Teams of grief counselors from across the district were at Mary Todd Elementary and Winburn Middle schools today to support students and staff as they absorbed the news, Liggins said. Additional counselors from the district will continue to be available indefinitely.
Hale encouraged families to talk with their children about the incident and be open about sharing their feelings. Hale said some children like to talk about their feelings, in which the best thing to do is listen and be comforting.
Hale also encouraged parents to be on the lookout for warning signs that your children need extra support, such as excessive fear of darkness, separation or being alone; clinging to parents, not wanting to go to school, change in behavior or eating and sleeping patterns, bed-wetting, nightmares and headaches.
”I cannot say enough good things about how our team stepped up today to wrap our students and staff in love and care,” Liggins said. “Skyler and Deon were beloved members of the Mary Todd and Winburn families and our entire FCPS community is grieving.”
Devine Carama, the director of One Lexington, tweeted just after 11 p.m. that a couple of schools in Lexington will need support after the incident. One Lexington is a program which focuses on using community resources to enhance safety and quality of life in neighborhoods experiencing violent crime, according to the city.
“Tragic night for the city man ...” Carama wrote in one tweet. “Don’t even know what to say. So so sad…… Praying for our people tonight. Praying for mental, emotional and physical healing.”
Investigators asked anyone with information about this case to call Lexington police at (859) 258-3600. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers by calling (859) 253-2020, online at www.bluegrasscrimestoppers.com, or through the P3 tips app available at www.p3tips.com.
This story was originally published May 3, 2022 at 1:47 PM.
