‘Substantial danger.’ Fayette Co. judge won’t reduce bond for woman charged with murder
A Fayette County judge deemed a woman charged with murder a ‘substantial danger to the community,’ after she was tied to another shooting just months prior to one that killed a 48-year-old Lexington man.
Shawnika Gill, 48, appeared for a preliminary hearing on Thursday morning, where Fayette District Judge John Tackett denied her request for a bond reduction and sent her cases to a grand jury for probable cause.
Gill is charged with murder in the death of Antonio Taylor, 48, who died after being shot on the 500 block of Newtown Pike June 5.
According to testimony from Lexington Police Department Detective John Davis, the night of Taylor’s death, an individual — later identified as Gill — arrived at a residence on Newtown Pike in a silver Buick Century. Witnesses said the driver emerged from the car with a mask covering their face, a black baseball cap, and all black clothing before they engaged in a verbal argument with Taylor.
After a few moments, the driver fired shots at Taylor, and he later died during emergency surgery at University of Kentucky hospital.
Davis testified that police were able to use Flock cameras — camera software that can read license plates — to identify the license plate of the vehicle, which was registered to Gill. Police used cell phone tracking data to follow Gill’s whereabouts, which were consistent with the location and time of the shooting.
Davis said no weapon was recovered, but three 9mm shell casings were found at the scene.
Police said Gill fled to a friend’s house in Cincinnati, where U.S. Marshals found and arrested her June 7. When police spoke with her, Davis testified, Gill said she was home at the time of the shooting.
Gill is also charged in a separate case for assault and being a felon in possession of a handgun. Another LPD detective, Chad Pelphrey, testified that in March 2024, Gill was involved in an altercation at a bar she worked at on Winchester Road.
Pelphrey testified Thursday that Gill was working as a security guard when a man who had previously been banned from the establishment attempted to get inside.
The two engaged in a verbal and physical argument before Gill was seen on video surveillance brandishing a firearm and shooting at him, according to police.
Moments afterward, a man identified as Mark Conley approached Gill and the man and shot Gill several times in the chest. Conley is facing criminal charges related to the shooting.
Gill was taken to UK Hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery. Her bond remains at $750,000 and she is being housed at the Fayette County Detention Center.
