Lexington Police say four people will face charges in a deadly home invasion that happened late Monday night.

One of those suspects, a 17-year-old, remains in the hospital after police say the victim exchanged gunfire with the suspects at Creekside South Apartments on Devonport Drive. The man living in the apartment was eventually shot and killed. Family members have identified that man as 26-year-old Flacko Isael-Lopez.

Family and friends of the man shot to death are grieving his loss but are also calling him a hero, "What he did. He died and you know that's really sad. But he was protecting his baby. Everyone that knows Flacko says that he was a good person and he'd do anything to help anybody, says Whitney Hafley, a family friend.

Hafley tells WKYT that Flacko jumped in front of his eleven-year-old step-daughter when the four intruders came into the apartment, "Stella was the one that opened it. She screamed and Flacko came in there and that's when I guess all the shooting happened and all of the shots started being fired."

The eleven-year-old and mother that were also inside the apartment both escaped injury during the gunfire.

"Flacko is a hero in my book," said Janie Fowler, the victim's mother-in-law. "He put his life on the line to protect my daughter and granddaughter."

A second suspect was wounded, but has since been released from the hospital and is now in custody.

As of Tuesday morning Lexington Police had three people in custody.
They say the shooting and home invasion were the result of a robbery attempt. Investigators believe three suspects approached apartment, with the intent to rob Lopez.

So far police have charged a 16-year-old with murder and robbery, 25-year-old Alexander Wallace Burdette with murder and robbery, and 20-year-old Rodneisha L. Murphy with robbery.

Investigators say Murphy confessed to planning and directing the other suspects in committing the robbery.