In the early hours of a Friday morning in Lexington, Kentucky, a burst of gunfire shattered the late-night revelry at a local restaurant, leaving a scene of chaos and tragedy. Antoine Clay, a 31-year-old man, was fatally wounded in the incident, which occurred on August 9, 2024. The shooting took place shortly after midnight at El Cid, a Mexican restaurant located on National Avenue.
The establishment, which the property owner stated had been operating more like a nightclub in the
evenings, was filled with patrons when the violence erupted. A vehicle pulled up to the restaurant, and a shooter from the passenger side opened fire through an open garage bay door into the crowded space. The sudden attack resulted in six people being shot. All the victims were transported to the University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital, where Antoine Clay was pronounced dead at 12:59 a.m. The other five victims, whose injuries were described as non-life-threatening, included four women and one other man.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Lexington Police Department launched a homicide investigation, with the FBI providing assistance. Investigators have urged the public to come forward with any information and have asked local businesses and residents to review their surveillance footage. As of now, no suspects have been publicly identified, and no arrests have been announced in connection with the shooting. The restaurant, El Cid, was evicted from the property following the deadly event. The property owner noted that eviction proceedings had already been initiated prior to the shooting due to non-payment of rent.
