Suspects found guilty in Covington shooting that seriously injured 3 juveniles

COVINGTON, Ky. (WXIX) - Two men have been found guilty of several charges that stem from a shooting that left three children injured in Covington.

A Kenton County jury found Thomas Brown Sr. and Taquan Estes guilty of three counts of assault, rioting and wanton endangerment on Oct. 13, according to Kenton County Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Sanders.

The shooting happened on West 17th Street in Covington on April 4, 2022.

Three kids, ages 7, 11 and 14 at the time, were all transported to the hospital with gunshot wounds after a fight broke out, Covington police said.

Detectives also found Brown, who was 41 at the time, with gunshot wounds to the groin.

During the four-day trial, jurors heard testimony from a witness who described one of the suspects to officers at the scene, two Covington police officers who gave medical aid to the juvenile victims and a victim who woke up in the hospital paralyzed after she was shot in the neck, leg and hand.

The victim told jurors about the female juveniles fighting in the alley and the adults and juvenile witnesses who encouraged, participated, watched, and filmed the fight.

Jurors also heard testimony from the medical staff who treated the gunshot wound victims.

“Evidence was presented of one child being paralyzed, one child being shot in the thigh, and one child having to have a bullet surgically removed from his foot,” Sanders wrote.

Sgt. Brian Powers testified about how the investigation led to Brown and Estes being the suspects.

Video evidence showed Brown firing several rounds into the air with a handgun and then into the crowd. Estes is seen exchanging gunfire back into the crowd and at Brown, Sanders explained.

WARNING: FOX19 has blurred and heavily cut the footage, but some viewers will still find it graphic.

The day after the shooting, police arrested Brown, and later arrested Estes, who was 17 at the time. He was indicted as an adult.

During trial, both men blamed each other, Sanders said.

“Brown testified that he was shooting the gun in the air, but Estes started the exchange of gunfire. Estes testified that he ‘panicked’ and that he only carried the gun in self-defense,” he explained.

Estes’s record shows he was previously convicted of multiple counts of wanton endangerment for a shooting at the Sunoco in Covington. The incident occurred just weeks before the shooting on April 4, 2022.

In that case, Estes was sentenced to nine years in prison.

The jury has recommended a sentenced of 20 years for both men. They will receive their final sentencing from Kenton Circuit Court Judge Patricia Summe in November.

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