By Drew Teague

UK Police Chief Joe Monroe said UKPD was the first to arrive on the scene and assess the situation.

“Our officers arrived on scene first and found two individuals suffering from gunshot wounds to the torso,” Monroe said. “Being right across from (Good) Samaritan Hospital, officers just picked those guys up, put them in the car and ran them across the street.”

Lexington PD arrived on the scene a short time later and took over the investigation, as the incident did not occur on campus property.

“When we arrived, UK Officers were already on the scene and had identified two victims who had been shot in the upper body,” Roberts said. “When our officers arrived of course, we began interviewing witnesses and then took over the investigation.”

Roberts said police got information to give them an idea of the occurrence before the shooting.

“Preliminary information indicates that there were two groups of people, the suspects and the victims,” she said. “They were walking on the side walk toward Tolly Ho when there was some sort of exchange of words between the two groups of people. Multiple shots were fired.”

Once the shooting occurred, the suspects fled in a vehicle, later recovered by police.

“The suspects got into a teal colored Chevy Camero, possibly a year 2000 model, and then drove away,” Roberts said. “That vehicle was subsequently discovered, towed by police, off of Versailles Road.”

Monroe said after taking the victims to one hospital they were later moved over to the UK Chandler Hospital.

“(The victims) were later transported to UK Hospital,” Monroe said. “Since then, both those individuals have undergone surgery. One of them is in fair condition, (the other) serious condition.”

Besides the initial two victims UKPD took to Good Samaritan Hospital, a third later showed up at the UK Hospital, claiming to have been shot during the altercation this morning.

“A third person showed up at the hospital sometime later with a gunshot wound to the foot,” Roberts said. “That individual said he had been at the McDonalds at the time of the shooting and was shot.”

Lexington Police are looking into if the third victim knew any of the people or if he was a bystander.

Monroe was very happy with the turnaround of the UK Alert being sent out in such a short time after UKPD responded.

“Of course (the UK Alert) didn’t have a whole lot of information, but in these types of situation that’s exactly what we want to do — get the word out quick, then we follow it up with more information later,” Monroe said. “I thought it was very good and timely.”

UKPD gave the “All Clear” in another UK Alert message sent out at 4:35 a.m., stating the emergency situation was over.

According to an e-mail sent out at 5:45 a.m. this morning, Lexington Police are looking for two black males. No other description was available.

UKPD advises students to be aware of their surroundings while walking. To report suspicious activity call 911 or #UKPD from any cell phone.