Man shot by Lexington police was wanted in NC domestic violence case, investigators say
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Lexington officers shot a vehicle occupant wanted on North Carolina felony warrants; suspect hospitalized in critical condition.
- Flock license-plate alert, drone and helicopter tracked the vehicle to Alumni Drive where three officers fired.
- KSP Critical Incident Response Team investigates; officers on administrative duty and bodycams recorded the encounter.
Investigators say Lexington police were attempting to arrest a man wanted in a domestic violence case out of North Carolina when they shot the suspect Tuesday evening near Alumni Drive.
Kentucky State Police identified the man as Brooks Plemmons, 40, Clemmons, N.C. He remains in critical condition at University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital Wednesday.
The shooting happened around 4:30 p.m. in the area of Alumni Drive and Yellowstone Parkway. The Lexington Police Department said officers were trying to pull over a vehicle associated with a person who had outstanding felony warrants and shot Plemmons during the encounter.
Three officers fired shots, and Plemmons was taken to the hospital by ambulance with life-threatening injuries.
Police have not released the names of the officers involved or provided details on why they fired Plemmons. A gun was reportedly found near him, but it’s unclear if he pointed it at the officers or threatened them.
LPD said it received a Flock license plate reader alert for Plemmons’ vehicle at 2:29 p.m. Tuesday. The camera system captures license plate images and other information about vehicles on the road and check it against online data to detect vehicles associated with crimes or missing persons cases.
Lexington police confirmed with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office that the felony warrants were still active and had nationwide extradition. A drone and police helicopter tracked Plemmons’ vehicle to Alumni Drive and Yellowstone Parkway, where the shooting occurred.
Why was Plemmons wanted?
Plemmons was wanted on prior warrants of first-degree kidnapping, assault by strangulation, discharge of a weapon on occupied property, possession of firearm by convicted felon and other charges. The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office said the charges stemmed from a domestic violence incident that had occurred just days prior.
Monday, Forsyth County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center after receiving a report of a domestic-related aggravated assault. The sheriff’s office said investigators spoke with the victim and determined Plemmons assaulted the victim between Jan. 30 and Feb. 2.
It’s unknown why Plemmons was in Lexington Tuesday. Kentucky state court records do not show any previous criminal activity associated with him.
What happens next in the investigation?
KSP’s critical incident response team is investigating the shooting, and an internal review will be conducted by Lexington police’s public integrity unit. Police said the three officers will be placed on administrative assignments during the investigated.
The officers had their body-worn cameras activated during the shooting, according to police.
This story was originally published February 4, 2026 at 1:38 PM.
