Two women have been killed and two men injured following a shooting at Richmond Road Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, on Sunday. Authorities say the gunman, who was later shot dead by police, may have had a personal connection to the victims.
Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers confirmed that the female victims, 72-year-old Beverly Gumm and 32-year-old Christina Combs, died at the scene. One of the male victims remains in critical condition, while the other is stable.
The violent episode began earlier in the day when a Kentucky State Trooper stopped the suspect near Blue Grass Airport, after receiving an alert about the vehicle’s number plate. The suspect reportedly shot the trooper and fled the scene. The trooper is currently in hospital in a stable condition.
The suspect then stole another vehicle and drove approximately 16 miles (26 km) to the church, where he opened fire. Police officers responding to the scene shot and killed him. Authorities have not released the suspect’s identity and say the motive remains under investigation.
Chief Weathers stated, “Preliminary information indicates that the suspect may have had a connection to the individuals at the church.” He did not elaborate further.
Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn described the church as a close-knit community, deeply affected by the incident.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear expressed his sorrow on social media, calling the attack “heartbreaking” and said, “Violence like this has no place in our commonwealth or country.”
The Blue Grass Airport, which briefly closed a terminal during the police operation, confirmed that the incident did not occur within the airport premises and was unrelated to airport operations.
The shooting has prompted state and local law enforcement agencies to begin a joint investigation, with support from the state Attorney General’s office.
