Detective: Lexington murder suspect claimed self-defense, but evidence says otherwise
A murder suspect claimed self-defense in a fatal shooting that left a 16-year-old boy dead, but the evidence suggests otherwise, a Lexington police detective testified Wednesday.
Robert Constant, 36, is facing charges of murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in connection to the shooting that left 16-year-old C’aveyoun Robinson dead. He was arrested on Aug. 29, roughly two months after the shooting occurred. An anonymous tip to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers led to Constant’s arrest.
The shooting happened early in the morning at Gatehouse Apartments on Liberty Road. Police previously said Robinson was found dead from a gunshot wound inside a vehicle. Constant was identified as the suspect a few days later.
During a preliminary hearing held at the Fayette District Courthouse Wednesday, Lexington police Det. Hunter Wilks testified that Constant was searching for his vehicle that was reported stolen earlier that evening. Constant was with another person in a Saturn SUV when they found the stolen vehicle, a Dodge Challenger, at the apartment complex.
After checking out the Challenger alone, Constant came back to the SUV in a hurry, Wilks said. Constant and the other person drove over to the Charger, and Constant pulled Robinson out of the vehicle and put him in the backseat of the SUV.
Constant then told the other person to go to the hospital, but officers arrived on the scene and parked in front of the SUV. Wilks said Constant fled.
Robinson was declared dead on the scene, police previously said.
The Charger was parked, unoccupied, in a grassy area on the side of the parking lot. Wilks said investigators have video footage showing the Challenger being stolen, and Robinson was one of several individuals involved in the theft.
After his arrest, Constant told detectives he shot into the stolen vehicle in self-defense.
A gun was found at the scene along with multiple shell casings, Wilks said. The gun was sent to the evidence lab for further testing.
Constant’s case was sent to a grand jury. His bond remains set at $750,000.
