Two women were killed and three others, including a Kentucky State Police trooper, were injured Sunday (July 13) in a pair of related shootings involving a single suspect at Blue Grass Airport and a Lexington church.
The violence began around 11:30 a.m. when the suspect shot a KSP trooper near Blue Grass Airport after a traffic stop and then fled to Richmond Road Baptist Church, where he opened fire, city Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said. Killed in the shootings at the church were a 72-year-old woman and a 34-year-old woman, the local coroner said.
Two other people were wounded at the church and taken to a local hospital, the police chief said. One victim sustained critical injuries and the other was in stable condition, Weathers said.
Suspect died at scene
The suspect was shot by police and died at the scene, he said. The suspect was not immediately identified pending notification of family, he said.
“Preliminary information indicates that the suspect may have had a connection to the individuals at the church,” the police chief said at a news conference.
The trooper stopped the vehicle after receiving a “license plate reader alert” and was shot about 11:30 a.m., Weathers said. The trooper was in stable condition, he said.
Church family ‘tight-knit group’
Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn identified the victims as Beverly Gumm, 72, and Kristina Combs, 34.
The pastor of the church is Jerry Gumm who has been there for 49 years.
“This church was a small church and the majority of the individuals there are biologically related in some way or another. If not, they’ve been friends for many, many years,” Ginn said during the press conference. “They’re a very tight-knit group of people.”
‘We turn to God’
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman reacted in a statement.
“Today, violence invaded the Lord’s House,” he said. “The attack on law enforcement and people of faith in Lexington shocked the entire commonwealth. This is another reminder of the grave danger we ask law enforcement to face every single day. 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.
“The detectives with the Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigations stand ready to support both agencies with whatever they need in the days ahead.”
Emergency medical personnel responded to the scene at Richmond Road Baptist Church, an Independent Baptist congregation, where they treated multiple victims.
‘Power of faith, prayer and community’
Gov. Andy Beshear also addressed the incident on social media, writing: “Kentucky, we are aware of a series of incidents in Lexington around one suspect, including a trooper-involved shooting and an additional shooting at Richmond Road Baptist Church with multiple injuries. The trooper and others are being treated at a nearby hospital. 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.”
State Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, R-Lexington, issued a statement, saying she was familiar with the church.
“When violence strikes where we gather to worship and serve, it shakes us deeply,” she said in a statement on X. “But even in grief, I believe in the healing power of faith, prayer, and community. 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. My prayers are with the @kystatepolice, @lexkypolice and our community.”
Kentucky State Police and Lexington Police officials are investigating the shootings, Weathers said. The Lexington Police officers involved will be placed on administrative assignment, pending the outcome of the investigation.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This article was written by Mark Maynard and first published by Kentucky Today. It is republished with permission.
