A shell casing found inside a homicide suspect’s SUV helped police link him to a fatal shooting at a fast food restaurant, a Lexington Police Department detective confirmed in court Friday.
Police were able to use the shell casing and other evidence to charge 22-year-old Jacolby Williams Shooting and killing 18-year-old Demetrius Hampton outside Cook Out restaurant on South Broadway in September, according to police. Hampton was pronounced dead at the scene. Williams was also charged with possession of a weapon as a felon.
Hampton bumped into Williams, and the two got into a verbal altercation before Williams shot Hampton in the chest, Detective John Davis testified at a preliminary hearing Friday.
“Within a few seconds, Mr. Williams reached into his right pocket, pulled out his handgun and shot Mr. Hampton before getting into an older model Ford Escape,” Davis said, describing to the court how the incident unfolded.
Williams’ car was found in a parking lot on E. Sixth Street with the help of Flock license plate readers and traffic cameras, according to Davis. A 9 mm shell casing was found inside the car, which was identical to the casing found at the scene.
Multiple witnesses were at the scene during the shooting and provided statements to police, identifying Williams as the shooter, Davis said. Surveillance footage also confirmed the witnesses’ statements.
Williams fired two shots, according to Davis. Hampton was also armed with a Glock 23 pistol, but Davis said his weapon was not clearly visible.
Seven shots were fired into Williams’ car as it fled the scene, Davis said. Davis said he knew who fired the additional shots, but no other information was available about the additional shooting.
Williams fled the state and was Arrested Police previously said the incident was located in Phoenix on Oct. 19 as a result of an anonymous tip to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers. He was extradited back to Lexington and booked into the Fayette County Detention Center on November 7. He is being held on $500,000 bail, according to jail records.
Judge John Tackett ultimately found probable cause in Williams’ case, sending it to a grand jury. Williams’ attorney presented no arguments against Davis’ testimony or against the current amount of Williams’ bonds.
