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Trio Charged In Feb. Shooting After Teen Refused To Join Gang

Posted at 9:10 PM, Apr 11, 2018
and last updated 2018-04-11 21:10:55-04

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Three men face nearly two dozen charges, including first-degree criminal gang recruitment, after police say they were involved in two shootings on February 28 on Hedgewood Court in Lexington’s Woodhill neighborhood. They believe it was in retaliation for a teen not joining a street gang. 

Davontae Cobb, 19; Jacque Jones, 18; and John Harris, 25; are accused of playing a role in attempting to recruit a teenager to join the Rollin’ 60’s Crips street gang. According to the arrest citation, Cobb approached the teen several times to join, and after he refused, "Mr. Cobb reported the two of them were going to have a ‘beef.’"

The first shooting happened after midnight, where police discovered 19 shell casings on Hedgewood Court. No one was hurt, but there was some property damage. The teen told police when he spotted the car belonging to Jones at the time of the shooting. Around 6:00 pm the same day, police responded to a second shooting, where a gas line was struck, leading to an evacuation of the street.

"I think all this needs to stop," one Woodhill neighbor said. She asked LEX 18 News to not be identified. "Woodhill was a beautiful place to live. I raised my kids out here. We didn’t go through all of this."

The neighborhood HOA said they have considered installing a security camera system, but it would cost approximately $32,000.

Activist and Lexington Urban County Council candidate Anita Franklin lost her son to gun violence four years ago this week. She said the gang activity here is a concern that everyone needs to pay attention to. "I have a motto, ‘see something, say something, do something,’" Franklin said. "When we see something suspicious in the neighborhood, as a community, as a neighborhood, we have to take ownership."

She said it will be up to neighbors to watch out for their children at all times and for suspicious activity, so to stop these street gangs from coming in.

"I pray to God it gets better," the Woodhill neighbor said.

Cobb also faces six counts of criminal mischief and 14 counts of wanton endangerment. Both Jones and Harris, who are brothers, each also face five counts of criminal mischief and 15 counts of wanton endangerment.