Grandmother identifies Lexington’s first homicide victim of 2023

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Lexington police have confirmed the city’s first homicide of 2023.

They say they found a man shot inside a vehicle on Toner Street near the Dunbar Community Center just before 7 p.m. Monday night.

The victim died at the scene.

“It is our first one of the year, but for us and our work, it doesn’t really matter,” ONE Lexington Director Devine Carama said. “It doesn’t matter if we went 10 years without a homicide, it doesn’t matter if it’s one or 45, it’s somebody that we lost, and there’s a family that’s being impacted,”

His grandmother, Andre Maxberry, first identified the victim Monday night as her grandson Marquis Tompkins Jr. The Fayette County Coroner’s Office confirmed the 24-year-old’s identity Tuesday morning.

“I dropped everything and rushed out the door and drove over there, and he was deceased by the time I made it there. Police had everything taped off,” Maxberry said.

Maxberry says Tompkins and his girlfriend were in the car when he was shot and killed.

She says the girlfriend was okay, but shaken up. Maxberry says their entire family is not only grappling with the loss, but going to have to find out how to tell his four-year-old daughter he leaves behind.

“His daughter has to grow up without a dad. Only memories she’ll have are what she won’t forget at 4. What we tell her and all we can tell her is he loved her dearly. This is going to be hard for a 4-year-old. I’m just like, I’m so over people taking people’s lives. This is not the Lexington I grew up in or raised my kids in,” said Maxberry.

Maxberry is calling for justice. She says she can’t bare to see another one her babies shot and killed. She says she’s furious that Lexington police aren’t doing more to close cases.

“Start doing the right things,” Maxberry said. “Quit getting in front of the media and telling everyone that you need the community’s help when you’re not doing anything with the information that the community is giving you.”

Maxberry says she’s gone to the police several times, giving them names of people involved in the city’s shootings.

Police say they are doing what they can as their investigation continues.

“We want to solve this case just as much as the family does,” said Sgt. Raymond Miller of the Lexington Police Department. “We want that justice for that family.”

As she fights for justice, Maxberry remembers her grandson as a loving friend, son, grandson and father to his 4-year-old daughter.

“Anywhere he went, he lit up the room. And he loved to eat.” Maxberry said. “God was ready for him. That’s all I can say cause my baby didn’t suffer. I just want them to catch who did this.”

Police have not released any information on a suspect.

They say if you have any information, call Lexington Police at (859) 258-3600. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers by calling (859) 253-2020, online at www.bluegrasscrimestoppers.com, or through the P3 Tips app available at www.p3tips.com.

Tompkins was one of two suspects arrested in connection with an August 2022 shooting that happened outside Fayette Mall.

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