2 more plead not guilty in shooting

Published 9:00 am Tuesday, November 14, 2017

The latest suspects in a shooting that killed two Clark County teens were arraigned Monday in Clark County District Court.

Matthew Carmen, 23, and Julia Richardson, 25, were arrested in connection to the shooting deaths of Adrianna Castro and Kayla Holland, both 16, Nov. 7 at the Washington Street Apartments.

Carmen and Richardson were arrested Friday at the Goodwill on Mapleleaf Drive in Lexington after Winchester Police issued a warning about the suspects on its Facebook page.

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Carmen is charged with two counts of complicity to commit murder and Richardson is charged with tampering with physical evidence and first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine).

They are lodged at the Clark County Detention Center. Carmen is being held on a $1 million bond and Richardson’s bond is $5,000, according to the CCDC website.

A judge entered not guilty pleas on their behalf Monday.

Four other suspects, Mikaela Buford, Darian Skinner, Denzel Hill and Ronnie Ellis, all of Winchester, were arrested Nov. 8 and pleaded not guilty in court last week. Each is charged with two counts of complicity to commit murder. Each is being held on a $1 million bond. All are due in Clark County District Court Wednesday for preliminary hearings.

According to police, a “gunfight” broke out and Castro and Holland were caught in the middle of it.

Winchester Police Capt. James Hall said Friday they wouldn’t provide specifics about how Carmen and Richardson were involved in the shooting, but they were visiting friends at the apartment complex.

He believes Holland and Castro were acquaintances with Carmen and Richardson.

Holland and Castro also attended George Rogers Clark High School with Buford and Ellis.

Winchester Police Chief Kevin Palmer said previously detectives believe the “gunfight” stemmed from an earlier incident.“What we’re getting, and we’re getting mixed signals, is it was an altercation that started earlier in the evening and culminated there at 27 E. Washington St.,” Palmer said last week. “It was an altercation where there were guns on both sides, according to witnesses.”

Palmer said some of the people on both sides knew each other, and said the two victims were involved.

Hall said police are not actively seeking any other suspects at this time, but the investigation is ongoing.

About Whitney Leggett

Whitney Leggett is managing editor of The Winchester Sun and Winchester Living magazine. To contact her, email whitney.leggett@winchestersun.com or call 859-759-0049.

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