LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — "I just wish everyone could get together and just be nicer, put the guns down."
Lynn Miles is all too familiar with gun violence.
Her nephew is Eric Sweat, a Lexington man police say was shot and killed in a home on Sandalwood Drive Thanksgiving night around 8:30.
"My son was shot back in August. He survived and he's doing well. Thank God but it's just been a hard very hard year for the whole family," said Miles who early Friday morning learned about her nephew's murder.
"All we know is that I got a phone call at four o'clock this morning that my nephew was shot and it killed him," said Miles. "Supposedly the stepson did it so that's all we know."
Relatives say Sweat and his girlfriend's 17-year-old son got into an argument when the teen allegedly shot Sweat, killing him. The juvenile was taken into custody and is now charged with murder.
The pain is still fresh and raw for Miles and her family.
"It's very hard for the family, and on both sides. I mean, you know, she lost her boyfriend, her baby's father, then plus her son, you know is locked up. So it's a loss. It's a double loss."
A 17-year-old male was charged with murder. He was placed into custody and transported to the Fayette Regional Juvenile Detention Center.
Lexington’s latest homicide - It’s the 34th one of the year. Relatives are devastated because they love both the accused and the gentleman who died. @LEX18News pic.twitter.com/rcgs7eCruA
— Leigh Searcy (@LSearcLex) November 26, 2021
According to Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn, two men got into a fight at the house where the shooting happened. One of them fired multiple shots, killing the other man.
LEX 18 was also told there were several family members at the house when this happened.
This homicide investigation marks the 34th homicide in Lexington this year, which, unfortunately, means this number is on track to break the city's record.
