The Fayette County Coroner's Office says the man who crashed near a building on Maxwelton Court died Thursday of a gunshot wound to the head.

The coroner identified the man as James Potter, 36, of Richmond.

On Thursday afternoon, police arrested 24-year-old Chase W. Helvey. He is charged with murder, assault, kidnapping and tampering with physical evidence.

Helvey waived his arraignment in court Friday. He will return to court Apr. 9.

Police say the crash happened around 9:00 p.m. Sunday at a university-owned building just off South Limestone. A vehicle made it into the front yard of a building hitting a sign outside.

Lexington police say Helvey shot and killed Potter with a handgun. A female passenger suffered injuries in the attack, and authorities say the suspect used a wooden object and blowtorch in the attack.

Police say that Helvey assaulted the woman at his home on Maxwelton Court over a prior dispute. When she attempted to leave with Potter, officials say Helvey shot Potter.

Potter was taken to the hospital after the crash and died Thursday morning.


WKYT's Caitlin Centner talked with students living in the area.

"I saw where the bricks and the sign were messed up on the house, so I figured someone just hit it and I assumed it was a DUI or something like that," Brandon Thomas, who lives nearby, said. "You do feel like you're in a bubble and then when something like this happens it kind of wakes you up and makes you realize it can happen anywhere."