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USA Today
14-07-2025
- USA Today
2 women dead after Kentucky church shooting; suspect killed by police
LOUISVILLE, KY − Two people were killed and three others were injured, including a state trooper, in a series of shootings in Kentucky on July 13, authorities said. The incident occurred at about 11:36 a.m. ET in Lexington, Kentucky, when local police responded to a report of a shooting involving a Kentucky State Police trooper on Terminal Drive. The road runs past Blue Grass Airport in Fayette County. The state trooper had pulled over a vehicle on the road after receiving a license plate reader alert in the area, Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said at a news conference. The suspect shot the trooper, fled the scene, and later carjacked a vehicle. The state trooper was in stable condition and was receiving medical treatment, according to Weathers. No injuries were reported in the carjacking incident. Officers were able to track the vehicle to the Richmond Road Baptist Church, where the suspect opened fire at people on the church property. Four people were shot, including two women who were pronounced dead at the scene and two men who were transported to a local hospital, Weathers said. Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn identified the two victims killed as Beverly Gumm, 72, and Kristina Combs, 32, the Louisville Courier Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. Of the victims injured, one sustained critical injuries while the other was reported in stable condition, according to the police chief. The suspect, who wasn't immediately identified, was shot and killed by Lexington police. Weathers said three officers fired their service weapons under department policies. "Preliminary information indicates that the suspect may have had a connection to the individuals at the church," Weathers said. "The suspect was shot by responding law enforcement and was pronounced deceased at the scene." Deadly decisions? Trump cuts gut anti-crime programs as summer violence looms Fayette County Coroner describes church as a tight-knit community The county coroner noted that the investigation remains ongoing and that a few hundred people were working the crime scene. Ginn said his office responded to the Richmond Road Baptist Church, which is about 16 miles southeast of the Blue Grass Airport and located on the outskirts of Lexington, at about 12:56 p.m. "This church was a small church," Ginn said at the news conference. "The majority of the individuals that attend the church there are related biologically, some way or another. If not, they've been friends for many, many years. So it's a very tight-knit group of people at the Richmond Baptist Church." He added that the families of the victims were at the church when the shooting occurred, and the coroner's office as able to notify them of the two deaths. True crime: Check out Witness — a library of true crime stories. Shooting involving state trooper not tied to Blue Grass Airport Earlier on July 13, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said in a social media post that a state trooper was among multiple people wounded in a series of shooting incidents. Kentucky State Police said on X that the agency and the Lexington Police Department were "able to secure the suspect," who is dead. State police confirmed that there were multiple victims at the church and that emergency personnel were at the scene. At least one trooper is "receiving medical attention," police said at the time. In a separate statement on X, the Lexington Police Department said the shooting at the church involved an officer. The police department added that the earlier shooting, in which the state trooper was shot, occurred on Terminal Drive. "While that shooting occurred on Terminal Drive, it was unrelated to the Blue Grass Airport," the police department said. Earlier, the airport reported that there was a law enforcement investigation "impacting a portion of Terminal Drive," but later said all flights and operations were operating as usual. During the news conference, Weathers reiterated that the shooting was not related to the Blue Grass Airport and did not occur inside the airport terminal. 'Please pray for everyone affected by these senseless acts of violence' Several state officials offered their condolences and prayers for those impacted by the incident. In his statement on X, Beshear asked for prayers for the victims killed and injured in the incident. "Please pray for everyone affected by these senseless acts of violence, and let's give thanks for the swift response by the Lexington Police Department and Kentucky State Police," the governor wrote. Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman said the "attack on law enforcement and people of faith in Lexington shocked the entire Commonwealth." 'Today, violence invaded the Lord's House," Coleman said in a statement. "We go to houses of worship to gather in fellowship, unite in faith, and reach toward our Creator. In light of this tragedy, we turn to God with our prayers for the injured Trooper and the victims' families." Kentucky state Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe said her prayers were with the community and the law enforcement agencies that responded to the shootings. "When violence strikes where we gather to worship and serve, it shakes us deeply. But even in grief, I believe in the healing power of faith, prayer, and community," Mays Bledsoe said on X. To all those hurting right now—know that you are surrounded in prayer. As Kentuckians, and as people of faith, we'll walk forward together with love, courage, and a steadfast hope that light will overcome darkness." Contributing: Charles A. Ventura, USA TODAY (This story was updated to add new information.)
NBC News
14-07-2025
- NBC News
Three dead, including gunman, in Kentucky shootings at church and airport
Three people are dead, including the gunman, in a pair of shootings Sunday at Kentucky's Blue Grass Airport and at a storied Lexington church across town, authorities said. The unidentified shooter struck a Kentucky State Police trooper on a terminal road at Blue Grass Airport at 11:36 a.m., Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said. The trooper had pulled the gunman over after having received a license plate reader alert in the area. 'The trooper was shot and the suspect fled,' Weathers said, adding that the trooper was stabilized and receiving treatment. Law enforcement caught up with the shooter at Richmond Road Baptist Church, about 16 miles to the southeast, where he also opened fire, Weathers said. Officers fatally shot the gunman, he said, but not before at least four people at the church were struck, two fatally. 'Preliminary information indicates that the suspect may have had a connection to the individuals at the church,' Weathers said. 'Four individuals were shot on church property.' Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn identified the two women pronounced dead at the scene as Beverly Gumm, 72, and Christina Combs, 32. Social media and public records indicate Gumm was Combs' mother and was married to the church's pastor. Of the two male victims shot at the church, one is in critical condition, while the other was stabilized, Weathers said. Ginn said he had not yet notified the gunman's family of his death so he cannot yet release his identity, which he said is known to police. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear addressed the series of shootings in a post on X. 'Please pray for everyone affected by these senseless acts of violence, and let's give thanks for the swift response by the Lexington Police Department and Kentucky State Police,' Beshear wrote. 'Details are still emerging, and we will share more information as available.' The Lexington Fire Department said it responded to a shooting at the airport at 11:39 a.m. and transported one person with 'serious injuries' to the hospital, according to NBC affiliate WLEX of Lexington. Blue Grass Airport confirmed in a statement that an 'incident' occurred on airport property. The airport said that it temporarily closed a roadway and a terminal as a precaution but that they were later reopened. Weathers emphasized the shooting was not related to the airport. He said state troopers, along with the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, were assisting Lexington detectives with the investigation. He had nothing on a possible motive but noted that the church is home to a tight-knit group of worshippers. State Attorney General Russell Coleman thanked first responders in a statement and said he was praying for the families. His office was also ready to assist the agencies involved, he added. 'This is another reminder of the grave danger we ask law enforcement to face every single day,' Coleman said. CORRECTION (July 13, 2025, 6:57 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misidentified the Fayette County coroner. He is Gary Ginn, not Bob Baker.
Hindustan Times
14-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Lexington Richmond Road Baptist Church shooting suspect identified; police release first details on victims
Lexington police revealed that they have identified the suspect who fired shots at the Blue Grass Airport before fleeing to the Richmond Road Baptist Church on Sunday. Officers further added that two women have died following the incident in Kentucky. Lexington shooting suspect has been identified, officials confirmed on Sunday(Unsplash) The women, who were not identified, are aged 72 and 32, police said. The shooter, who is dead, has also been identified. But police did not release the name, explaining that their family has not been notified yet. Read More: Louisville shooting: Active shooter alert at Kentucky Expo Center and fairground; first video emerges Authorities confirmed that the suspect fled to the church, where two men were shot and injured. The shooter had shot a state trooper near the Blue Grass Airport. Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said the trooper pulled over a vehicle near the airport. After shooting the trooper, the suspect carjacked a vehicle and fled to the church, where they began shooting at people there. The trooper was shot at 11:36 AM in Fayette County, where Lexington is located, state police said. Read More: Huntington shooting: At least 1 shot after gunfire erupts in parking lot Both men from the church were taken to the hospital. One of the victims is in critical condition, and the other is stable. The suspect was later killed by Lexington police. Earlier in teh day, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear issued a statement, asking residents to thank law enforcement for their response to the incidents. 'Please pray for everyone affected by these senseless acts of violence, and let's give thanks for the swift response by the Lexington Police Department and Kentucky State Police,' he said in a post on X, platform formerly known as Twitter. The Blue Grass Airport posted on X at 1 p.m. ET (1700 GMT) that there was a law enforcement investigation affecting a portion of an airport road, but that all flights and operations were now proceeding normally. (With inputs from Reuters)
Reuters
14-07-2025
- Reuters
Kentucky church shooting leaves three dead, including suspect
July 13 (Reuters) - A gunman killed two women at a church in Kentucky and shot and wounded a state trooper outside an airport on Sunday before police were able to shoot him to death, authorities said. The women were killed at the Richmond Road Baptist Church in Lexington. Two men were also wounded there, including one who was in critical condition, Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers told an afternoon press conference. Authorities did not provide the suspect's name or age. "There are days like today that are extremely difficult,' Weathers said. "Sometimes things happen, you just don't have a reason why." The suspect fired at the trooper after being pulled over near Blue Grass Airport at about 11:30 a.m. in Fayette County, Weathers said. The shooting happened on a road that rings the airport but was not connected to its operations, police said. The trooper was being treated at a nearby hospital and was in stable condition. The suspect then carjacked a vehicle about 10 miles (16 km) from the airport and fled to Richmond Road Baptist Church, where the individual began firing at people on the church grounds. Police tracked the location of the carjacked vehicle to the church. The police chief did not offer any motive for the shootings, but said there was some indication that the suspect may have known some of the people at the church. Weathers said Lexington police would conduct an internal review of the shooting, as required by department policies. The Blue Grass Airport posted on X at 1 p.m. ET (1700 GMT) that there was a law enforcement investigation affecting a portion of an airport road, but that all flights and operations were now proceeding normally.
CNA
13-07-2025
- CNA
Kentucky church shooting leaves three dead, including suspect
A gunman killed two women at a church in Kentucky and shot and wounded a state trooper outside an airport on Sunday (Jul 13) before police were able to shoot him to death, authorities said. The women were killed at the Richmond Road Baptist Church in Lexington. Two men were also wounded there, including one who was in critical condition, Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers told an afternoon press conference. Authorities did not provide the suspect's name or age. "There are days like today that are extremely difficult,' Weathers said. "Sometimes things happen, you just don't have a reason why." The suspect fired at the trooper after being pulled over near Blue Grass Airport at about 11.30am (11.30pm, Singapore time) in Fayette County, Weathers said. The shooting happened on a road that rings the airport but was not connected to its operations, police said. The trooper was being treated at a nearby hospital and was in stable condition. The suspect then carjacked a vehicle about 16km from the airport and fled to Richmond Road Baptist Church, where the individual began firing at people on the church grounds. Police tracked the location of the carjacked vehicle to the church. The police chief did not offer any motive for the shootings, but said there was some indication that the suspect may have known some of the people at the church. Weathers said Lexington police would conduct an internal review of the shooting, as required by department policies. The Blue Grass Airport posted on X at 1pm that there was a law enforcement investigation affecting a portion of an airport road, but that all flights and operations were now proceeding normally.
