In the early evening of a September day in Lexington, Kentucky, a sense of tragedy befell the Winburn Drive community. A young woman, 22-year-old Maryiah Coleman, was walking her dog when the sound of gunfire shattered the peace. Tragically, she was struck by a stray bullet. At eight months pregnant, Maryiah was eagerly awaiting the arrival of her son, Jakobe, who she had just seen on an ultrasound earlier that same day.
The single shot that ended her life also claimed the life of her unborn child.
The senseless act of violence sent shockwaves through the neighborhood, prompting vigils as the community mourned the dual loss. For months, the Lexington police dedicated countless hours to unraveling the case. Through what they described as old-fashioned police work—knocking on doors, conducting interviews, and utilizing technology—investigators pieced together the events of that fateful day. Their efforts were bolstered by cooperation from individuals within the Winburn Drive community who came forward with information.
Several months later, a significant breakthrough was announced. Three men, all 20 years old at the time, were charged in connection with the deaths of Maryiah and Jakobe. Demetrioun L. Boaz, Joseph 'Jodie' Fain, and Saquan Freeman were indicted on charges of murder, fetal homicide, and robbery. Investigators determined that the three men had gone to Winburn Drive with the intention of robbing an acquaintance. When their intended target attempted to flee, shots were fired, and one of the bullets tragically found Maryiah. While it was not publicly disclosed which of the three fired the fatal shot, police confirmed that all three were aware that an innocent bystander had been hit. The suspects were already in custody at the Fayette County Detention Center on charges related to a separate home invasion and robbery that had occurred a month after Maryiah's death. Police also indicated that they were looking into the possible involvement of a fourth individual.
