In the cool evening of January 7, 2022, the city of Lexington, Kentucky, was shattered by an act of violence that claimed the life of 26-year-old Kobby Lee Martin, a Black/African American male. Police and fire departments were dispatched to the 1700 block of Cantrill Drive, off Eastland Parkway, at approximately 9:09 p.m. following a report of a person down. Upon their arrival, they discovered Martin unresponsive in the street, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Fayette County Coroner's Office confirmed Martin's identity and that his death was a homicide resulting from the gunshot wounds. An autopsy was subsequently performed at the state medical examiner's office in Louisville. In the wake of the shooting, Lexington police appealed to the public for assistance, asking residents in the area to check their home surveillance footage for any potential evidence that could lead to the person or persons responsible for Martin's death.
The investigation led to the arrest of Deonte Carter, who was 24 years old at the time. Carter was charged with murder and tampering with physical evidence in connection with the fatal shooting of Kobby Lee Martin. In a later development in October 2025, Carter pleaded guilty to amended charges of manslaughter and evidence tampering. This plea was part of a legal process that brought a measure of resolution to the case, though the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Martin's death remained ongoing.
