Louisville police charge man in deaths of 3-year-old Trinity Randolph, father

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Police in Louisville, Kentucky, arrested and charged a man Tuesday in the shooting deaths of 3-year-old Trinity Randolph and her 21-year-old father, Brandon Waddles.

Kevon Lawless was charged with murder in the Aug. 14 deaths of Trinity and Waddles, Louisville Metro Police Department spokesperson Alicia Smiley said at a news conference. Lawless also was charged with first-degree burglary and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, Smiley said.

Trinity was playing in her “Frozen” dollhouse when she was fatally shot, her grandfather, Tyronn Howlett, told the Louisville Courier-Journal. Waddles was pronounced dead at the scene, while Trinity died at an area hospital, WDRB reported.

“Once the trial and everybody is held accountable, I think that’ll be better relief for us,” Howlett told WHAS. “This 3-year-old child never did anything to anyone in life and I think someone needs to be held accountable at the highest level for this.”

Homicide Unit Lt. Donnie Burbrink said Lawless was arrested “without incident” and is being held at the Louisville Department of Metro Corrections.

“The homicide unit would also like to express our appreciation to the community for calling in tips to provide the Randolph and Waddles families with the answer they so rightfully deserve,” Burbrink said at the news conference.

Lawless is the second person arrested in connection with the homicides. Evan Ross, 28, of Louisville, was arrested Aug. 19 and charged with two counts of facilitation of murder, WDRB reported. Bail was set at $1 million, the television station reported.

Homicide Unit Lt. Donnie Burbrink said at the news conference that Lawless was arrested “without incident. He is being held without bail at the Louisville Department of Metro Corrections and will appear in court Wednesday, WAVE reported.

Burbrink said police believe Waddles and Lawless knew each other but did not elaborate, the Courier-Journal reported.

Louisville police said a car used during the shootings was caught on surveillance footage near the shooting scene, WAVE reported. The car was registered to Ross, police said. According to an arrest report, Ross admitted his involvement in the shootings, the television station reported.

The arrest report said Ross admitted his involvement in the shootings while being interviewed by LMPD homicide detectives.

“Lawless is the person who actually, we believe through the investigation, is the one who shot and killed Brandon and Trinity,” Burbrink told reporters. “And Mr. Ross assisted him in this case.”

Cox Media Group