‘You did not deserve this.’ Friends react to death of man beaten in Lexington garage

Friends, family and former coworkers of a man who died after he was assaulted in a downtown Lexington parking garage remembered him as a caring person who made life more fun for those he loved.

Rikki Bigham wrote in a Facebook post that “this world is a darker place” without John Tyler “Ty” Abner.

“Anyone who knows Ty Abner knows when he was around you were always laughing and smiling,” she said.

Police said Abner died Monday night after officers found him being assaulted by another man, Benjamin Call, in the Victorian Square Parking Garage on West Short Street Monday. Officers were called to respond to a disorder in the garage at about 9:50 p.m. Abner was pronounced dead at the scene. Call, 39, is charged with murder.

Abner, 31, worked at Pies & Pints pizzeria on Main Street, a few blocks from the parking garage.

In his Facebook profile, Abner described himself as a “beach bum, tree hugger, earth child, lover of all things natural and wild.”

Some of his friends emphasized how much he loved celebrating Halloween. In his honor, friends said they would continue Abner’s Halloween tradition of transforming his Nickwood Trail garage into a haunted house for neighborhood kids Saturday and Sunday.“With his tragic passing we thought a lot about how Ty would want to be celebrated, and we know Ty would want the show to go on!”

Abner “made life an adventure,” Taylor Lee Adams wrote. “You were light and love, warmth and acceptance, family and home.”

Madison Kritzwiser remembered Abner as “a beautiful soul” who “would drop everything for the people you loved.”

“Your energy would light up a whole room when you walked in. I always loved that about you,” she wrote in a Facebook post. “This world is crazy….you did not deserve this.”

Ally Ford Cooper said in a Facebook post that Abner was “a light” to all who knew him.

“You wouldn’t have hurt a fly and had the biggest heart you were real and happy. Lived life and never squandered it,” she wrote. “I’m sorry this world was evil.”

Abner’s former Ohio co-workers at R Kitchen on Paint said Abner “was a light in our lives, he loved with his whole spirit, he gave everything to everyone. Our community, our people, he touched us all. Life can be infuriating and unfair and sad and unjust. We will always love you. We will always miss you and we will never, ever forget you. We will strive to always be as accepting, loving, free and humbled as you were. May your family find peace and may you continue to spread your wings and happiness everywhere you go. Rest In Peace our friend.”

Court record reveals new details about Lexington parking garage homicide

Victim’s name released. Man faces murder charge after Lexington garage assault