Lexington Community Launches ‘Safe Passage’ Plan After Shootings Near Tates Creek Schools to Protect Students and Restore Peace

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY — Following a series of shootings near Tates Creek schools, community leaders in Lexington have launched an emergency safety initiative called the Safe Passage for Centre Parkway Action Plan. The program, organized by ONE Lexington, aims to protect students and restore calm after recent gun violence rattled nearby neighborhoods.

The city-backed group, which works to prevent youth gun violence, announced the plan on Monday. It includes community patrols, neighborhood engagement, and expanded afterschool programming to help reduce tension and keep children safe while traveling to and from school.

A Swift Response to Recent Violence

The action plan follows two shootings last week that prompted heightened security around Tates Creek Middle and High Schools.

• On Tuesday, an 18-year-old was shot at Gainesway Park just as students were leaving school.
• On Friday, a man was shot and killed in a nearby apartment parking lot on the 1100 block of Centre Parkway.

Although police confirmed the incidents were not connected and did not involve students, the proximity to school campuses alarmed parents and residents.

ONE Lexington Director Devine Carama said the organization’s immediate goal is to reassure the community while developing longer-term solutions.

“There will be a time to build a broader strategy,” Carama said during a Facebook livestream. “But right now, it’s up to us to act — to respond.”

What the ‘Safe Passage’ Plan Includes

Under the Safe Passage for Centre Parkway Action Plan, community members and volunteers are being asked to wear orange and patrol the neighborhood during school dismissal hours.

The initiative will continue through December 1 and focuses on creating a visible, supportive presence around schools and key walking routes.

“We are going to make sure these kids get home safe,” Carama said. “No kid should have to worry about making it from school to home safely — that’s unacceptable.”

In addition to the volunteer patrols:

• ONE Lexington staff will greet students each morning at Gainesway Park, where high schoolers often gather before school.
• Tates Creek Community Center will extend hours from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays to offer a safe space for students.
• Afterschool mentoring programs will be expanded to promote conflict resolution and positive engagement among youth.

Carama said a strong adult presence in the area before and after school can deter negative behavior and help connect young people to resources.

Community Engagement and Resident Support

As part of the plan, ONE Lexington is asking residents in the Centre Parkway area to step outside their homes each night at 7:30 p.m. throughout November to show neighborhood solidarity and discourage violence.

“We believe this unified step-out not only shows neighborhood solidarity but also a strong community presence that may deter negative activity,” ONE Lexington said in a statement.

This Thursday, the organization will host a neighborhood walk and survey to collect feedback from residents about safety, community needs, and opportunities for long-term improvement.

Participants who complete the survey will be entered into a $250 Kroger gift card drawing as an incentive for sharing their input.

“In order to heal this community, we’ve got to hear from the community,” Carama emphasized.

Building Toward Long-Term Safety

While the current action plan is a short-term solution, officials say the data and feedback gathered in November will help develop a more comprehensive violence prevention strategy for early 2026.

Lexington police confirmed arrests in some of the recent incidents — including 36-year-old Teonte White, charged with assault and burglary in an earlier shooting on Sutherland Drive — but other cases, like the Ascot Park shooting, remain unsolved.

Carama said the Safe Passage initiative is about restoring trust, presence, and unity across the affected neighborhoods.

“This is how we show up — not just with words, but with action,” he said.

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