DNA from weapon in Lexington murder matches a man not on trial, expert testimony reveals
Forensic analysis of DNA found on a 300 Blackout rifle thought to be used in a 2023 Lexington murder is confirmed to match a man who is not on trial for the homicide, an expert testified Tuesday.
Corry Jackson, 38, was indicted in June 2023 on charges of murder and being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun. Jackson was arrested after the April 2023 shooting in the 400 block of Chestnut Street. Lakeisha Hill, 32, and Timonte Harris, 43, both died as a result of the shooting. Jackson’s trial began Monday and is expected to last four days.
Police believe Harris killed Hill before being fatally shot himself. Jackson is not charged in connection to Hill’s death.
At the start of the trial on Monday, Jackson’s attorney, Daniel Whitley, claimed in opening statements that another man, Courtney Wrenn, would admit on the stand he fired the fatal shots and that DNA on the 300 Blackout rifle belonged to him.
In testimony Tuesday morning, Makayla Scott, a DNA analyst from Kentucky State Police confirmed that DNA found on the trigger and lever of the rifle matched Wrenn, who was dating Hill at the time of her death.
Other male DNA was found on the weapon, but not enough was available to make a meaningful match to other DNA profiles.
Regina Wells, a DNA forensic technician with the Kentucky State Police testified that blood found at the scene inside the home matched that of Wrenn. Her findings were sent to police in June — the same month that a grand jury indicted Jackson.
Erin Konrad, another forensic analyst, confirmed on forms she received in October 2023 that Wrenn and Jackson were suspects in the case.
Wrenn has not been charged in connection to Harris’s death and was not at the scene when officers arrived, according to testimony. Wrenn is charged in connection to another homicide in 2023 that killed 31-year-old Stacey Marshall on Michigan Avenue.
Inconsistencies in witness testimony, evidence collection
Evidence collection of gunshot residue and inconsistent witness statements surfaced as the prosecutors moved through their case.
Jackson was arrested one block away from the scene of the shooting, after a witness, Jennifer Renfro, identified him as the shooter. Police detained Jackson nearby the shooting as he was walking and allegedly wearing white shoes and green clothes Renfro said matched the suspect.
In body camera footage of police interviews with Renfro shortly after the shooting, she can be heard clearly telling police she “watched the whole thing.”
Renfro testified Tuesday she didn’t see the shooting take place, but looked out of her window after she heard gunshots and saw Jackson walking with “a handgun.” However, testimony established Harris was killed with a 300 Blackout rifle.
Her home at the time was located at 433 Chestnut Street — two doors down from where the shooting took place at 425 Chestnut Street, on the same side of the road. Renfro testified she didn’t even know where 425 Chestnut Street was in relation to her home and seemed to think it could be across the street from where she lived.
Renfro said the night of the shooting was the only time she was contacted by police ahead of her testimony Tuesday. Detective Jeremy Adkins testified later he attempted to contact Renfro many times, to no avail until closer to trial.
Her husband, Gary Mathis, testified Tuesday that he heard the gunshots while inside the home and went outside to look. He testified he saw a man in a green Nike outfit shoot at Harris and then calmly walk away. He later confirmed to police that Jackson was the shooter.
“That is the only person I saw shooting,” Mathis said. During cross examination Mathis said he wasn’t sure what type of gun was fired, and thought that maybe he put the handgun in his pocket.
Prosecutors called Lexington police officers to the stand who testified Monday largely about their response to the shooting. Once Jackson was located, police are seen on body camera footage detaining Jackson who appeared compliant and even joked with officers.
But a glaring problem in evidence collection came to light: Jacob Sharp, an officer with LPD allowed Jackson to wipe his arms and hands with alcohol swabs — before they swabbed Jackson for potential gunshot residue evidence.
Jackson told police he had been at his step mother’s home nearby when the heard the shots and later “crashed through” a wooden fence resulting in superficial cuts bleeding on his arms and legs.
When his other officers arrived to test for gunshot residue, Sharp testified he immediately realized the mistake he made.
John David Clem, a forensic chemist with KSP, confirmed a particle of gunshot residue was found on Jackson’s skin. Four particles were found on his clothing. Gunshot residue can be found on a person if they fire a weapon, or are within a 60-foot proximity to a weapon being fired.
This is a developing story and could be updated.
This story was originally published December 17, 2024 at 11:18 AM.
CORRECTION: An original version of this article referenced another officer as testifying about gunshot residue. Lexington Police Department Officer Jacob Sharp was the individual who testified about gunshot residue.
