Latonia Robbery/Shooting Sends Damien Kidd to Prison
COVINGTON, Ky. — On May 13, 2020, Damien Kidd was the backseat passenger in a white pickup truck driven by Dylan Estes with Thomas Thompson as the front passenger. Thompson had arranged to meet victim Chris Carr at the apartments located at 15 W. Southern Avenue in Latonia. At some point after setting up the meeting, Kidd and Thompson had decided to rob Carr.
When the truck parked, Carr approached the front passenger and began speaking to Thompson. Kidd hopped out of the back seat, wearing a mask, and holding both a shotgun and a pistol. Kidd confronted Carr and demanded his money. Carr attempted to run away but Kidd shot him once in the back with the pistol. Miraculously, Carr was not seriously injured as a result of being shot.
In the early morning hours of May 14, 2020, Newport Police were called to the occupants of a white pickup truck sleeping at a Speedway gas station. Kidd, Thompson, and Estes were all found inside the vehicle and arrested. Both the shotgun and pistol were recovered. Thompson and Estes were interviewed and both told detectives that Kidd was the shooter.
After all suspects were arrested, Det. David Lillich of the Covington Police Department began listening to their jail calls. Det. Lillich came across a recorded call where Kidd admitted that he shot Carr as well as a series of calls where Kidd repeatedly asked his mother Brenda Smith to pay off Carr so he wouldn’t come to court and testify. Det Lillich obtained a search warrant of Smith’s Facebook account, which showed that she had sent messages to various Chris Carrs, attempting to reach the victim in her son’s case.
On Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020, the day trial was scheduled to begin, Kidd pled guilty to Assault 2nd Degree, Robbery 1st Degree, and Tampering with a Witness. Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Aaron Levinson is recommending a sentence of 10 years to serve. Kidd will only be eligible for parole after serving 85% of his sentence.
Thompson had previously pled guilty to Facilitation to Robbery First Degree and received a sentence of 5 years to serve. Brenda Smith also pled guilty to Tampering with a Witness and is awaiting sentencing. Kidd is scheduled for a final sentence on Jan. 5, 2021 before Kenton Circuit Judge Patricia Summe.
Posted on Friday, November 20th, 2020 @ 12:20PM
Categories: Blog, Commonwealth's Commentary
