On the evening of October 15, 2023, tragedy struck on the 200 block of Race Street in Lexington, Kentucky, claiming the life of 47-year-old Esaud Cortes. Around 9:16 p.m., the Lexington Police Department received reports of shots fired in the area and immediately dispatched officers to the scene. Upon their arrival, first responders discovered a male victim suffering from a critical gunshot wound.
Despite the efforts of emergency personnel, the injuries proved fatal, and the Fayette County Coroner’s Office pronounced him deceased at the location at 10:09 p.m.
The investigation faced an initial complication regarding the victim’s identity. Authorities at the scene were first provided with the name Samuel Lopez, an alias reportedly given by a member of the household. It was not until later that the coroner's office was able to confirm the man's true identity as Esaud Cortes, following a correction provided by his son. This clarification became a key detail in the early stages of the homicide inquiry as detectives from the Personal Crimes Section began their work to piece together the events of that night.
As of March 2024, the case remained an active but unsolved homicide, with the suspect having fled the scene prior to the arrival of law enforcement. No arrests have been reported in connection with the shooting, and police have not released a detailed description of the perpetrator. The Lexington Police Department continues to seek information from the public, listing the death of Esaud Cortes among the cases on their dedicated unsolved homicide website, in hopes that new tips might lead to a break in the investigation and bring closure to the victim's family.
