During the Murray State and University of Kentucky football game around 2 p.m., four-year-old Marco Lee Shemwell was struck and killed by a vehicle driven by Jacob Heill, 18. Shemwell and his family were waiting to cross the road when Lexington Police Sgt. Stephen Yoder says the vehicle possibly veered off the road slightly.
Shemwell was taken to UK Chandler Hospital with life-threatening injuries before ultimately succumbing to his injuries.
“The entire University of Kentucky community is heart-sick at the loss of our young friend and fan,” UK President Eli Capilouto said. “In this awful moment, we hope his parents, brother and other loved ones feel the warm and caring embrace generated by every soul in our UK family.”
Heill, a first-year student and Alpha Tau Omega pledge, was arrested at the scene, and has since entered a not-guilty plea to DUI. Along with his suspension from the university, the ATO chapter at Kentucky has been shut down.
“Following an investigation conducted by the National Fraternity Alpha Tau Omega has revoked the charter of the University of Kentucky Mu Iota chapter,” WKYT reported the fraternity said in a statement. “Violations of the Fraternity’s Health and Safety policy prompted the decision. The chapter is closed and ATO no longer has a presence on campus.”