In the early hours of a summer morning in Covington, Kentucky, the life of Ashley Nicole Kilgore, a 26-year-old Black/African American mother, was tragically cut short. On June 29, 2021, Ashley was found on White Court in the City Heights neighborhood around 2 a.m., suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. She was rushed to St. Elizabeth Hospital, but her injuries proved fatal, and she was pronounced dead shortly after her arrival.
Ashley was a mother to five surviving children, who ranged in age from one to nine years old at the time of her death. A sixth child had previously passed away. Her family, including her sister Emily Kilgore, expressed profound grief and disbelief, remembering Ashley as a dedicated mother who loved her children and was always there for her family.
The investigation into her death quickly led to a suspect. Edwin Brooks-Kellis, also 26 years old, was apprehended as he attempted to flee the scene in a dark-colored van. According to police, Brooks-Kellis, who was under the influence, had fired at Ashley from his second-story window. After his capture, he admitted to the shooting and directed officers to the location of the murder weapon inside his vehicle. A subsequent search of his apartment revealed a stolen gun.
Edwin Brooks-Kellis was arrested and charged with murder and receiving stolen property. He was booked into the Kenton County Detention Center and held without bond. The Covington Police Department's investigation also indicated the possibility of a second shooter who may have returned fire at Brooks-Kellis after Ashley was shot. However, the primary focus of the legal proceedings has been on Brooks-Kellis as the individual responsible for Ashley Kilgore's death, leaving a family to grapple with an immeasurable loss and a community to mourn a life taken too soon.
