A deadly shooting spree that began at a Kentucky airport and concluded at a local church resulted in two fatalities and three injuries, according to local law enforcement. The victims, identified as Christine Combs, 34, and Beverly Gumm, 72, were fatally shot during a Sunday service at the Richmond Road Baptist Church in Lexington. Both women were active members of the church community. Two other male church attendees were also injured, with one in critical condition.
The Lexington Police Department reported that three of their officers responded to the incident and engaged in a firefight with the suspect. The unidentified gunman was later confirmed dead at the scene. The motive behind the shooting remains unknown.
Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers expressed his sorrow over the tragic incident. He acknowledged the difficulty of such days, noting that sometimes events occur without any discernible reason.
The violent episode began around 11:30 a.m. at the Blue Grass Airport. A state trooper had pulled over a vehicle after a license plate reader flagged it. The suspect shot the trooper, leaving him critically injured, and then fled the scene in a stolen car.
The suspect then drove approximately 15 miles to the Richmond Road Church. According to police, the suspect had some connection to the church, where he opened fire on the congregants. The responding officers subsequently killed the suspect.
The injured state trooper was quickly transported to a hospital and has since been stabilized. The exact trigger for the shooting spree remains a mystery.
The shooter’s connection to the Richmond Road Church is also uncertain. However, Fayatte County Coroner Gary Ginn described the church community as closely knit. He noted that most of the congregants are either related or have been friends for many years.