Homicides down in Lexington in 2023

With 2023 coming to a close the homicide numbers in Lexington are down to 25, compared to last year with nearly 45 murders.

Lexington, Ky (WTVQ): With 2023 coming to a close the homicide numbers in Lexington are down to 25, compared to last year with nearly 45 murders.

One Lexington is a gun violence prevention initiative for youth and young adults.

Kenneth Payne, the community outreach advocate for One Lexington, says, “What can we do to ensure that another mother doesn’t have to feel that pain. Another father doesn’t have to feel that pain. Another child doesn’t have to feel that pain of losing a sibling. Another community doesn’t have to feel that pain of losing someone,” he said.  “A lot of these kids they just need some hope, really they just need somebody who can bring some hope to them.”

Payne has helped youth in the community for more than 15 years. He says the pandemic and directly after the pandemic is when the city saw a spike in homicides. Some important initiatives the group incorporated, include: summer youth programs, grants for local organizations, and neighborhood engagement walks. “It takes a village to raise a kid, and Devine always says if it takes a village to raise a kid it takes a village to lose a kid,” he said.

Payne says for those ages 13 to 29, in 2022 the number was at 24. This year however, only 11 or 12 homicides for that age range, but Payne says one homicide is still too many. “The focus is the work … how can we further our work. How can we do better work to ensure that there’s zero,” he said.

He attributes this decrease in numbers due to more folks getting involved. “The community will always be there and if we can empower the community, uplift those organizations that’s where true change will come,” Payne said.

According to Lexington police crime data, more than 10 homicides this year are still unsolved.