On Christmas Day in 2019, the life of 23-year-old Bertin Garcia-Jimenez, a Hispanic male, was tragically cut short in Lexington, Kentucky. Authorities were called to the Crystal Garden Apartments in the Cardinal Valley neighborhood shortly after 1 p.m., following a report from a Spanish-speaking individual who believed someone was dead inside one of the units. Upon their arrival, first responders discovered Garcia-Jimenez with a fatal gunshot wound.
The Fayette County Coroner pronounced him dead at the scene, and his death was quickly ruled a homicide.
The initial stages of the investigation were hampered by language barriers, which created complications for the first responders trying to piece together the events that had transpired. Despite these challenges, the Lexington Police Department diligently pursued leads in the case. For nearly two years, the investigation remained open with no immediate arrests made, leaving a sense of unease and unanswered questions within the community. The killing of Garcia-Jimenez also marked a grim milestone for the city, tying the record for annual homicides at the time.
A significant breakthrough in the case finally came on December 15, 2021, when 33-year-old Jose Andrade was arrested in Washington State in connection with the murder. According to the arrest warrant, two witnesses stated they saw Andrade shoot Garcia-Jimenez in the head before fleeing the scene. Andrade was subsequently extradited to Lexington and booked into the Fayette County Detention Center. He faced multiple charges, including murder, two counts of second-degree assault, one count of fourth-degree assault, and one count of terroristic threatening. His arrest, almost two years after the incident, brought a measure of resolution to the long-standing investigation.
