Lexington, Kentucky (National Times): A tragic shooting incident on Sunday morning at the Richmond Road Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, left two women dead and two men injured. The suspect responsible was later shot and killed by law enforcement, according to CNN, citing local officials.
The series of events began around 11:35 a.m. ET when a Kentucky State Police officer attempted to pull over a vehicle on Terminal Drive near Blue Grass Airport after a license plate reader alert. During the stop, the officer was shot by the suspect, who then fled the scene, carjacked another vehicle, and drove roughly 15 miles to the Richmond Road Baptist Church.
During a press briefing, Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said the gunman appeared to have connections to individuals at the church, though he declined to elaborate. Upon reaching the church premises, the suspect opened fire on multiple people.
Responding officers from the Lexington Police Department arrived quickly and fatally shot the suspect at the scene. While the identity of the shooter has been determined, police are withholding the name pending notification of the family.
Victims Identified
Authorities confirmed the deaths of Beverly Gumm, 72, and Christina Combs, 34, both of whom were fatally shot at the church. Two men were also injured in the attack and are currently being treated in hospital—one in critical condition, the other reported as stable.
The police officer injured during the initial confrontation at the airport is also said to be in stable condition. Officials have clarified that the first shooting was unrelated to airport operations, although it temporarily disrupted traffic on Terminal Drive.
Reactions and Condolences
In the aftermath of the incident, Blue Grass Airport officials released a statement on X (formerly Twitter), assuring passengers that “flights and operations are now continuing as usual,” with airport staff assisting in managing parking and traffic flow.
Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn, who arrived on-site, described the Richmond Road Baptist Church as a close-knit community. “It’s a very tight-knit group of people,” he said, noting that he had personally informed some family members about the tragic losses.
According to reports, a sermon was being livestreamed from the church at the time of the shooting. Pastor Jerry Gumm, who was leading the service, had mentioned the word “death” several times, adding an eerie layer to the unfolding tragedy.
Leaders Condemn Violence
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear expressed deep sorrow and praised law enforcement’s swift response. “Please pray for everyone affected by these senseless acts of violence,” he wrote on X, while thanking the Lexington Police and Kentucky State Police.
U.S. Representative Andy Barr also extended prayers for the injured and commended first responders for their bravery. “I’m monitoring this situation very closely,” he wrote on X.
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman issued a strong statement, saying, “Today, violence invaded the Lord’s House. The attack on law enforcement and people of faith in Lexington shocked the entire Commonwealth.”
