Winburn community mourns shooting death of James Blair

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)-It’s been a deadly week in Lexington. Dozens of people in Lexington’s Winburn neighborhood gathered at the Stop N’ Shop convenience store to remember one of those victims, 27-year-old James Blair, at a vigil and balloon release in his honor.

James’s mom Doreene Blair says, “it’s going to be so hard, it is. It’s going to be so hard…It’s hard because James was a loving and good guy. Everybody loved James. He was a good guy…do anything in the world for everybody.”

And he was beloved by many in the Winburn community.

His younger sister Rikyah Blair says, “He was always there. If you needed somebody to lean on he was always there.”

Police believe Blair was gunned down in the parking lot of Chase Bank on East Main Street. Officers responded to reports of gunfire at the parking lot around 2am Sunday morning. Just minutes later police say Blair was dropped off a nearby hospital. He was then transferred to UK Hospital where he later died from a gunshot wound to the stomach.

Police have identified a possible person of interest in this case, and are urging anyone with information to come forward.

James’s Aunt Angela Turner says, “It’s very difficult for us to go to bed at night without crying, wake-up and crying. It’s difficult. it’s very difficult.”

Two baby boys are now without a father and a community is heartbroken…rocked by the death of James Blair and pregnant mother Mariyah Coleman, shot and killed, just down the street last month.

Rikyah Blair says, “It’s a war and we need all of this to just stop.”

Police are urging anyone with information about the shooting to come forward. Tips can also be sent anonymously by calling Bluegrass Crime Stoppers at (859) 253-2020.