Neighbors react after Louisville teen shot and killed at Lexington party

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)-Ethan Rowton says he woke up early Saturday morning, most likely by the loud party going on downstairs.

He says, “I heard like 10 pops and my first reaction was get down on my bed.”

He immediately called police. but when paramedics arrived they were unable to save 18-year-old Nathanial McNealy. Police say he was shot multiple times and was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Neighbor Tony Gilkey says, “Prayers and all of that you never want to hear anyone losing a life.”

Gilkey was at the party, but was inside and didn’t see the fight start outside before shots were fired.

He says, “People started screaming you know, ‘he’s hit!’ And I ran down to the house got down to the front porch. Police got here and people were screaming like ‘he’s dying!'”

Rowton and his roommates are pretty shaken up about what happened and are considering moving out. Rowton says he now has a bullet hole through his garage and that this is not the first shooting at the Red Mile Square Townhomes.

Rowton says, “Pretty crazy, I mean I had to go inside once I saw they were doing the chest compressions ’cause I was like ugh I don’t really want to see that. But hopefully the cops will stick around here a little more because there definitely needs to be some.”

Gilkey just moved in about two months ago, but says he’s planning on sticking around.

“You know it just makes you want to be more aware about people that are around. Because parties are good for college students. You know, it’s a college-based area. But you want to watch who you’re bringing around because I don’t think neither one of those guys lived here or knew the person that stayed. So really just watch who’s around.”

There have yet to be any arrests made and police are asking for the public’s help to provide any information and help them come up with a clear suspect description.

Family members will be releasing balloons in Nathanial Mcnealy’s honor tomorrow night in Louisville at 6:30 in Berrytown Park.