Early in the morning on Monday, September 8, a Lexington police officer returned shots at a person armed with a rifle during a foot pursuit. The shooting occurred only about one-fifth of a mile from HC, at the apartment complex at 100 Lakeshore Drive.
Officers were dispatched around 2:05 a.m. for a reported robbery that occurred at 2000 Cambridge Drive. Upon arrival, the officers learned that an individual had been robbed and their vehicle was stolen. Police located the vehicle at the apartment complex at 100 Lakeshore Drive when an individual with a rifle fled on foot.
According to Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers, the person fired one shot during the pursuit. An officer returned fire, but no one was struck by the shots fired.
The suspect, who was later identified as Jaylin Clark, 20, reported minor injuries from the foot pursuit and was treated at a local hospital. He has since been released and is being held at the Fayette County Detention Center.
Clark is charged with first-degree wanton endangerment involving a police officer, carjacking, third-degree fleeing or evading police, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and an unrelated warrant, according to police.
Clark has a previous criminal record involving firearm charges. In November 2022, Clark was indicted on first-degree robbery at age 17. He later pleaded guilty to a reduced theft charge involving more than $10,000 and was sentenced in January 2024 to seven years in prison. In June 2024, he also pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property – a firearm – and received a concurrent three-year sentence. Court records show he served about 10 months before being released on parole in October 2024, with supervision set to continue until February 2027.
The officers present involved in the shooting on the morning of Monday, September 8, will be placed on administrative assignment pending the outcome of the investigation.
