Update: Bloomfield man charged with murder in Tuesday morning homicide

NELSON COUNTY GAZETTE / WBRT RADIO
STAFF REPORT

Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, 6 p.m. — A Bloomfield man, Alexander Cole Roberts, 18, was charged with murder Tuesday afternoon following an investigation in the homicide death of Rasheed Wickliffe, 18, of Bardstown.

ALEXANDER COLE ROBERTS

Wickliffe died from wounds sustained in an altercation about 6 a.m. Tuesday in the area of the Bloomfield Post Office on Taylorsville Road. Police and the Nelson County Coroner initially believed Wickliffe died from a gunshot wound, but that was incorrect, according to Nelson County Sheriff Ed Mattingly.

At a Tuesday afternoon press conference, Mattingly said Wickliffe died from a fatal puncture wound to the neck during an assault in what he termed was “a drug deal gone wrong.” When asked if the victim was stabbed, Mattingly would only say the victim died from a puncture wound.

“We have an entrance wound, no exit wound and no projectile,” Mattingly said of the victim’s injuries.

At the time of the press conference, police were still interrogating Roberts and Trenton J. Lovvorn, 19, of Bardstown. It isn’t known yet if Lovvorn will face charges in the incident. Lovvorn and Wickliffe were longtime friends who arrived in Bloomfield in the same vehicle. It was Lovvorn who called 911 for help after Wickliffe was injured Tuesday morning.

After police units arrived in Bloomfield, they located Roberts at his father’s home a couple of houses from the post office.

During the press conference, the victim’s family members and friends filed in a side door to observe silently, only speaking out after Mattingly repeated the incident appeared to be “a drug deal gone wrong” and after he said the suspects could face charges that could include homicide, prompting several individuals to say “murder!”

Family members expressed their unhappiness at learning about the incident through social media or the news media before receiving official notification. As additional family and friends began to speak of their loss, Mattingly left the podium to talk with the family privately.

During the press conference, Mattingly said he had been the victim’s baseball coach some years ago. Wickliffe also played football as a student at Bardstown High School.

Rasheed Wickliffe’s family described him as an industrious, hard-working young man who was loved by his family and friends. Wickliffe played football as a student at Bardstown High School

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