In the cold of a January night in Lexington, Kentucky, the life of 18-year-old Caleb Hallett was tragically cut short. On January 9, 2016, what began as a plan for a robbery ended in bloodshed, leaving a community in mourning and a family shattered. Hallett, a male graduate of Lafayette High School who worked as a sales associate and produced music, was shot multiple times and later died at the University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital.
His friend, Josh Baker, was also wounded in the attack, sustaining a gunshot to his arm.
The events of that fatal night unfolded as five individuals set out with the intention of robbing a house on University Avenue, believing it to contain a significant amount of marijuana. Two juveniles who were later arrested explained to police that they, along with Marquess L. Smith, Marique Q. Sturgis, and Kenyon Hipps, drove to the location in the early morning hours. While the two juveniles remained in the car, Smith, Sturgis, and Hipps, wearing masks, proceeded towards the house. It was then that Hallett and Baker emerged from the residence. As they got into Hallett's car, they were confronted by the armed men. An exchange of words reportedly led Smith to open fire into the vehicle. Sturgis also admitted to shooting at Baker. The only item taken during the robbery was Baker's cellphone, which was later discarded from the getaway car.
In the aftermath of the shooting, law enforcement began the arduous task of piecing together the events and bringing those responsible to justice. Their investigation led them to the five suspects. However, one of the suspects, 21-year-old Kenyon Hipps, would not face earthly justice, as he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound just ten days after the murder. The other four were apprehended and faced a range of charges including murder, assault, and robbery. Marquess L. Smith and Marique Q. Sturgis, who was 17 at the time of the crime, were eventually put on trial.
The legal process brought some measure of closure to the case. Two of the suspects, Christopher “Mason” Allen and Ricky Auxier, entered into plea deals in exchange for their testimony against Smith and Sturgis. In November 2023, a jury found Marquess L. Smith guilty of murder, assault, and robbery. Marique Q. Sturgis was found guilty of manslaughter, assault, robbery, and evidence tampering. The convictions marked the culmination of a nearly eight-year journey for justice for Caleb Hallett, a young man remembered by friends and family for his kind and caring nature.
