Charges dropped against two brothers accused in deadly Lexington shooting

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Charges have been dropped against two brothers previously accused in a deadly September shooting in Lexington.

According to Fayette County District Court, Kevin Marquez-Chavez, 18, and Brian Marquez-Chavez, 21, were facing charges in connection to the death of 28-year-old Esmeralda Rodriguez-Perez and the injury of another man in the September 8, 2024 shooting on Betsy Lane. However, the case has now been dismissed after a grand jury declined to indict them.

The brothers were initially charged with murder, attempted murder, and 20 counts of wanton endangerment. The investigation led police to a silver Nissan Altima, which was seen multiple times on Flock cameras near the crime scene and was registered to Brian Marquez-Chavez. Additionally, cellphone data showed both brothers’ phones pinging near the area at the time of the shooting.

Detectives recovered 24 shell casings, suggesting the use of an automatic firearm, though the weapon was never found. A male victim who was injured in the shooting also identified the brothers as suspects.

Following the incident, the brothers fled to Florida, where they were later arrested and extradited to Fayette County. Despite their attorneys arguing they were simply in a neighborhood where they had previously lived, a judge denied bond reductions, citing the severity of the charges and flight risk concerns.

Attorney Brad Clark, who represents Brian Marquez-Chavez, had maintained that the evidence was circumstantial, stating, “Sometimes totally innocent people that are in these neighborhoods can get drawn into things even just by association, even just by name.”

While prosecutors initially moved forward with the case, the grand jury ultimately declined to indict, leading to the dismissal of all charges against the Marquez-Chavez brothers.