Coroner identifies man who died in Lexington apartment gas leak; city condemns building, assists displaced residents

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 News Now) — The Fayette County Coroner has identified the man who died following a gas leak at a Lexington apartment building early Monday morning.

According to the coroner’s office, the victim was 62-year-old Samuel Gross of Lexington. The cause of death remains pending toxicology results, and the manner of death is still under investigation.

Lexington fire officials said crews were called to the Oxford Circle Apartments just before 5 a.m. Monday and discovered dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide and natural gas inside the building. Gross was pronounced dead at the scene, and 11 other residents were taken to the hospital. They are expected to survive.

Fire officials said they had responded to a medical call at the same apartment complex around 2 a.m., but were met outside, and never went into the building.

City officials confirmed Tuesday that the Division of Code Enforcement has condemned the building. Staff members from Code Enforcement are working with local and state officials, as well as Columbia Gas, to investigate the incident and determine the cause. That investigation is ongoing.

According to an email to ABC 36 News Now from the city, its Office of Housing Advocacy & Community Development has been on site since Tuesday morning, meeting with affected tenants. So far, staff have met with 20 households and assisted all of them, including helping residents secure hotel stays while they work on longer-term housing solutions. Anyone who has not yet been contacted and still needs help is encouraged to call Community & Resident Services at 859-300-5300.