Two women were killed and two men were injured in a shooting at the Richmond Road Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky.
The shooter, who had previously been stopped by a state trooper near Lexington’s airport, fired at the trooper before fleeing the scene. The trooper is stable and receiving treatment in the hospital.
The suspect stole a vehicle and drove to the church, where he opened fire and was subsequently shot dead by police.
Officers shot and killed the gunman, but not before at least four people at the church were struck, two fatally. Pic: Lexington Herald-Leader/AP
“Preliminary information indicates that the suspect may have had a connection to the individuals at the church,” said Police Chief Lawrence Weathers at a news briefing. The shootings remain under investigation.
Officers have not revealed the suspect’s details or speculated about a potential motive.
Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn said the church is a tight-knit community. He identified the two victims as Beverly Gumm, 72, and Christina Combs, 32.
Lexington is a city around 72 miles south of Cincinnati, Ohio.
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Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear posted a message on X stating he was “heartbroken” by the deaths and the injuries, including that of a Kentucky State Police trooper.
“Violence like this has no place in our commonwealth or country. Please join Britainy [my wife] and me as we pray for the families of those lost, each one a child of God gone too soon,” he wrote.
State Attorney General Russell Coleman said detectives from his office were ready to support local and state agencies.
Blue Grass Airport confirmed in a statement that an “incident” occurred on airport property, and temporarily closed a terminal as a precaution, but it was later reopened. Police said the shooting was not related to the airport.
Source: https://news.sky.com/story/multiple-people-injured-after-shooting-at-church-in-kentucky-13395776
