Detective says dispute over grass clippings led to deadly shooting in Kentucky
By Edward Smith
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LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (WLKY) — The person charged with killing their neighbor after a dispute over grass clippings appeared in court on Monday.
Lindsay Kelley is charged with the late-October murder of 53-year-old Antwan Whitehead.
At a probable cause hearing on Monday, a Jefferson County judge advanced the case to a grand jury after hearing testimony.
In court, a detective explained how the altercation started with an argument that ended with 10 shots being fired.
The prosecution called an LMPD detective to detail the mid-afternoon shooting. The detective testified that witnesses said it all began when Kelley started mowing her lawn.
Witnesses told police Whitehead was upset that grass clippings were getting on his car, so he walked over to Kelley’s yard.
Dudzinski testified witnesses recalled hearing Whitehead say to Kelley, “I told you to stop cutting your lawn and get your grass clippings on my car.”
Detectives say security camera video shows Kelley charging at Whitehead with the lawn mower.
“The defendant pushed a lawn mower and kind of did a pop-up wheelie, causing the victim to fall to the ground,” Det. Joseph Dudzinski testified.
According to testimony, Whitehead then got up and approached Kelley again.
“The defendant pulls out a handgun, shoots approximately four to five times,” Dudzinski testified.
The detective said the video shows that even with Whitehead on the ground, Kelley continued firing, getting closer until she was standing at his feet.
“The defendant walks towards Antwan and shoots him four or five times more while he’s lying on the ground,” Dudzinski testified.
The defense focused more on where the shooting happened than what happened. Kelley’s attorney argued that because the confrontation took place in Kelley’s front yard, the shooting was self-defense.
“While she is moving back from the initial incident with the lawn mower, Whitehead is going towards her,” defense attorney Justin Brown argued.
The defense also pointed to the fact that Kelley called 911 and a statement she made to police saying she was “in fear of my life.”
The defense asked the court to consider a manslaughter charge instead.
The defense’s request made Whitehead’s family emotional in the courtroom and prompted the prosecution to push back.
Prosecutors pointed to the fact that Whitehead was not armed and the number of shots fired.
“It was the intent of the defendant that Antwan be dead in that moment,” the prosecution argued.
After posting part of a $250,000 bond, Kelley was initially released from jail the day after the shooting.
However, Kelley was taken into custody Monday after Judge Amber Wolf ruled she would have to post a full cash bond.
The judge also declined the defense’s request to reduce the murder charge, calling the second round of shots “extremely excessive.”
The case will be heard by a grand jury in mid-December.
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