Man arrested, charged with murder in July shooting death of a 16-year-old in Lexington

The Lexington Police Department has arrested a man accused of killing a 16-year-old teenager in July.

Robert Constant , 36, was booked into the Fayette County Detention Center Wednesday, according to jail records. He’s been charged with murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The fatal shooting happened early in the morning on July 19 at Gatehouse Apartments on Liberty Road. Police previously said C’aveyoun Robinson, 16, was found dead from a gunshot wound inside a vehicle.

What allegedly happened in the shooting

The original 9-1-1 call to police came from Constant’s phone, according to court documents. In the recording Constant can be heard saying “hey I got someone out here in a stolen car” and “get out of the car” before the sound of gunshots.

A witness told investigators a person matching Constant’s description moved Robinson’s body from the driver’s seat to a vehicle to the backseat of another vehicle, which was occupied by another person, according to court documents. That other person corroborated the witness’ statement.

Later that morning police swarmed The Revive at 1749 apartment complex on Liberty Road attempting to contact a person of interest in the homicide. Police later said the person they were looking for wasn’t there.

Constant was identified as the suspect a few days after the shooting occurred.

Constant is being held at the Fayette County jail on a $750,000, according to court records. He will be arraigned in Fayette District Court Thursday afternoon.

Constant sentenced to prison in 2017

In 2017 Constant pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal attempt of third-degree assault — police officer along with other charges, according to court records. The charges were amended down from third-degree assault — police officer. Constant was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

There have been 10 homicides in Lexington this year, according to police data. Eight of this year’s homicide cases feature an arrest.

In 2023, Lexington reported 24 homicides , fewer than the record-breaking year of 2022, when 44 killings took place. The last time Lexington reported 24 or fewer homicides in a year was in 2018, according to Lexington police data, which dates back to 2008.