In the Masterson Station neighborhood of Lexington, Kentucky, a tragic series of events unfolded on March 8, 2024, leading to the death of 17-year-old Kenlon Johnson. Johnson, a male, was found shot in the 2400 block of Rockaway Place and was rushed to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The incident was the city's second homicide of the year.
Investigations into the shooting revealed a heartbreaking betrayal.
According to police, Johnson was allegedly set up by his own friends. Surveillance footage from the area captured five individuals, including Johnson and the man who would later be charged with his murder, arriving at the scene in a stolen vehicle. Tragically, only four would leave in that same car; Johnson was shot multiple times and left behind. A detective testified that Johnson was unarmed at the time of the shooting.
Months of investigation, which included processing about 30 search warrants, led authorities to 19-year-old Jon'tay Mattingly. An anonymous tip, along with cell phone records placing Mattingly in the vicinity of the crime and DNA evidence from a vape found at the scene, pointed to him as the suspect. Mattingly was arrested in October 2024 and charged with murder. At the time of the shooting, he was on probation for a prior robbery charge.
Despite the arrest, the path to justice took an unexpected turn. During a preliminary hearing, Mattingly's lawyer argued that there was insufficient evidence to prove he was the shooter, emphasizing that while he was present, no witnesses or evidence directly implicated him in firing the weapon. Though a judge initially found probable cause to send the case to a grand jury, the grand jury ultimately declined to indict Mattingly on the murder charge in January 2025. While police believe four individuals were involved in the setup, no one else has been charged in connection with Kenlon Johnson's death. The victim's mother, Zenobia Simpson, expressed her anguish, stating that her son and Mattingly grew up together and were friends. She believes others were involved and that justice has not yet been fully served.
