Lexington's 100-Day Homicide-Free Streak: How Long Has It Been?

A New Era of Safety in Lexington

Lexington has reached a significant milestone in its ongoing efforts to combat gun violence. The city recently celebrated its 100th consecutive day without a reported homicide, marking a rare and hopeful moment in the community's history. This achievement comes after the last recorded homicide occurred on February 5, when 17-year-old Johnathan Hunt was shot and killed by 18-year-old Amontae Flynn at the Westminster Village apartment complex on Versailles Road.

According to data from the Lexington Police Department, this is the first time since at least 2008—when the department began tracking homicides—that the city has gone 100 days without a homicide. Last year, the city managed to go 55 days without a homicide between November 7, 2025, and January 1, 2026. Over the past few years, the trend has shown consistent improvement, with the yearly homicide count declining for three consecutive years.

Devine Carama, the director of One Lexington, an arm of the city government focused on preventing violent crime, shared that the city has seen a 60% decline in overall gun violence over the past four years. The city is on track for a fifth straight year of decreasing gun violence. As of May 15, there have been 10 non-fatal shootings in Lexington, down from 14 at the same time last year. Additionally, there were zero conflict-based shooting incidents in April, according to Carama.

Gun deaths across the United States have also seen a sharp decline since 2021, as highlighted by data from the Pew Research Center. This national trend aligns with the progress being made in Lexington, where community-driven initiatives are playing a key role in reducing violence.

Building a Strategic Plan for Change

Carama took on the role of director at One Lexington in 2021, starting by gathering community feedback to develop a strategic plan. This plan has been in place for several years and continues to yield positive results. “Now a lot of these young people who would’ve been in the cycle of violence in 2026, we were working to keep them away from that cycle back in 2022, 2023,” Carama explained. “Some of the beefs that were starting to escalate in 2022, when we were doing mediation services and conflict resolution, those are things that might’ve been exploding in 2026 that are now conflicts that are resolved.”

One Lexington’s approach focuses on addressing the root causes of gun violence and preventing it from spreading through the community. The initiative includes community-based strategies such as:

• Collaborating with schools and other local partners
• Engaging with individuals involved in the cycle of violence
• Investing in crime-solving technology
• Increasing access to mental health resources
• Supporting survivors of gun violence
• Participating in community-policing practices

These efforts have proven to be more effective as time goes on, showing measurable improvements in public safety. While Carama acknowledges the progress, she also emphasizes the importance of not becoming complacent. “When lives are being lost, you’re never celebrating,” she said. “But I do think it’s important to acknowledge the reality of our progress.”

A Continuous Journey Toward Healing

Carama views the recent milestone of 100 days without a homicide as a step forward, but not the end goal. She believes there is still more work to be done to extend the streak of violence-free days in the future. “The thing about healing is it’s not a destination, it’s a journey,” she said. “This work is not a destination, it’s continuous. It’s a journey because even though gun violence prevention is the mandate, when you look at the root causes, ultimately we’re trying to increase the quality of life in residents.”

Looking ahead, Carama hopes to see the community take more responsibility in carrying out the strategic plan. One Lexington is currently in discussions with stakeholders, council members, and other officials about transitioning the organization from the mayor’s office into a permanent division of the city government. “We have evolved into an office effectively, and so I think that is what’s going to make One Lexington sustainable,” Carama said. This shift could help ensure long-term success in the fight against gun violence and promote lasting change in the community.