On the evening of December 12, 2023, a visit to a corner store in Lexington, Kentucky, turned fatal for Robert Douglas Marshall. The 33-year-old Black man had stopped at the Dairy Mart at 1116 Winburn Drive, a small convenience store in a busy residential neighborhood. Shortly after 7:25 p.m., dispatchers received calls reporting a shooting at the location. Officers arrived to find a chaotic scene where the familiar storefront lights were now illuminated by flashing police cruisers.
Inside the store, police discovered Marshall suffering from a gunshot wound. First responders provided immediate aid and rushed him to the University of Kentucky hospital, but his injury proved too severe. He was pronounced dead at 7:59 p.m. The Fayette County Coroner later confirmed that he died from a single gunshot wound.
Investigators secured the scene, and patrol cars filled the parking lot as detectives worked to piece together what had happened.
According to police, a suspect was still at the store when they arrived and was immediately taken into custody. Officials later confirmed that all parties involved in the incident had been identified, but they did not publicly release details about what led to the shooting. News of Marshall’s death brought an outpouring of grief from loved ones, who painted a picture of a man with deep ties to both Kentucky and Michigan. A family fundraising page was created to help bring his body home to Michigan for burial. He was remembered as a devoted son and brother who lived for his boys and poured his energy into being the best father he could be. Friends and family recalled his upbeat spirit and the warmth and encouragement he offered to those around him.
While the investigation began as a homicide, a significant development changed the public understanding of the case. In January 2024, the Lexington Police Department confirmed that the shooting was being investigated as a case of justifiable self-defense. This update provided new context for the events that transpired inside the Winburn Drive store, shifting the focus of the investigation. As of that update, the case was proceeding with the self-defense claim under review by legal authorities.
