Victim’s name released. Man faces murder charge after Lexington garage assault
(New stories: Court record reveals new details about Lexington parking garage homicide & ‘You did not deserve this.’ Friends react to death of man beaten in Lexington garage)
A man was killed after being assaulted in a downtown Lexington parking garage Monday night, according to Lexington police.
John Tyler Abner, 31, was pronounced dead on scene about 11 p.m. due to blunt-trauma injuries sustained from the assault, according to the Fayette County coroner. Police have charged Benjamin Call, 39, with murder.
Call was in the Fayette County Detention Center Tuesday.
Abner worked at Pies & Pints, a local pizzeria on Main Street, according to his and other Facebook posts. The restaurant is only a couple of blocks away from the parking garage where the assault took place.
“We never had a dull moment. I trusted him completely. He was my best friend and will forever be my witch brother,” said Randall Morton, the general manager of Pies & Pints, in a Facebook post.
“I will forever miss the most vibrant soul I’ve ever known,” friend Sabrina Collier wrote on Facebook.
According to Lt. Daniel Truex, police responded to a call of a disorder in the Victorian Square Parking Garage on West Short Street at approximately 9:50 p.m. Monday.
Upon arrival, officers observed Call assaulting Abner, police said.
Call was immediately detained and paramedics provided first aid to Abner before he died, police said.
No weapons were found on scene, Truex said. Police believe Call and Abner knew each other prior to the incident.
Call was taken to the hospital with unknown injuries before he was taken to jail, Truex said.
This story was originally published October 26, 2021 at 7:37 AM.
