Crime

Three arrested for attempted murder after shooting injures Lexington police detective

A Lexington Police Department detective was injured after being shot while conducting an investigation, according to police.

The shooting happened at approximately 11:54 p.m. Feb. 28 on the 900 block of Royal Avenue, which is near Winchester Road. Police said detectives were following up on an investigation when unknown suspect(s) opened fire on a detective inside a vehicle.

The detective suffered minor injuries but did not require hospitalization, according to police. The detective was able to return shots and no other injuries were reported.

Three people were detained on the scene. Later Thursday morning, police said the three suspects, 27-year-old Daquis Sharp, 19-year-old Jatiece Parks and 19-year-old Zalan Dulin, were all arrested and charged in connection to the incident.

Arrest citations for the suspects say they fired multiple shots into the detective’s unmarked vehicle. One shot hit the detective in the thigh.

The vehicle sustained over $1,000 in damage from the shots, according to court documents.

All three suspects have been charged with attempted murder of a police officer, second-degree assault (police officer), first-degree criminal mischief and six counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, according to police. The suspects are also accused of firing shots into an occupied home on Royal Avenue with six people inside.

Sharp has also been charged with possession a firearm by a convicted felon, police said.

Sharp, Parks and Dulin are being held at the Fayette County Detention Center. They are being held without a bond and will be arraigned in Fayette District Court Friday.

The shooting is being investigated by the Kentucky State Police’s Critical Incident Response Team, which typically investigates all shootings involving police officers. Police said body-worn camera footage of the shooting is being reviewed.

The detective has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation is ongoing, police said.

Members of the Lexington Police Department work the scene where a detective was shot overnight near Royal Avenue in Lexington, Ky., on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. The detective suffered minor injuries but did not require hospitalization, according to police.
Members of the Lexington Police Department work the scene where a detective was shot overnight near Royal Avenue in Lexington, Ky., on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. The detective suffered minor injuries but did not require hospitalization, according to police. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
Members of the Lexington Police Department work the scene where a detective was shot overnight near Royal Avenue in Lexington, Ky., on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. The shooting happened just before midnight, Feb. 28.
Members of the Lexington Police Department work the scene where a detective was shot overnight near Royal Avenue in Lexington, Ky., on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. The shooting happened just before midnight, Feb. 28. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
Members of the Lexington Police Department work the scene where a detective was shot overnight near Royal Avenue in Lexington, Ky., on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024.
Members of the Lexington Police Department work the scene where a detective was shot overnight near Royal Avenue in Lexington, Ky., on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com

This is a developing story and will be updated.

This story was originally published February 29, 2024 at 7:16 AM.

Christopher Leach
Lexington Herald-Leader
Chris Leach is a breaking news reporter for the Lexington Herald-Leader. He joined the newspaper in September 2021 after previously working with the Anderson News and the Cats Pause. Chris graduated from UK in December 2018. Support my work with a digital subscription
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