Deadly Shooting Spree Rocks Kentucky: Two Killed at Church, Officer Wounded at Airport

Multiple Casualties in Sunday Morning Violence Across Lexington

A devastating shooting spree across Lexington, Kentucky, on Sunday morning resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries, as an armed suspect carried out attacks at two separate locations before being killed by police. The incident began at Blue Grass Airport and culminated at a local Baptist church, leaving two congregants dead and a state trooper seriously wounded.

Airport Incident Triggers Multi-Hour Manhunt

The violent rampage commenced at approximately 10:40 AM when the unidentified gunman opened fire outside Blue Grass Airport in Lexington. The initial confrontation occurred on Terminal Drive, where a Kentucky State Police trooper had pulled over the suspect’s vehicle after it was flagged by an automated license plate reader connected to traffic surveillance cameras in the area.

During what began as a routine traffic stop, the situation escalated dramatically when the suspect opened fire on the responding trooper. The officer sustained serious injuries in the exchange of gunfire but remained conscious and coherent when emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene.

Gena Roland, an eyewitness who was among the first civilians to respond to the airport shooting, described the chaotic scene that unfolded. “We were the first to arrive after the shooting, barely escaping a head-on collision with the shooter as he fled the airport driving in the wrong direction,” Roland recounted. “The trooper was thankfully awake and alert when the ambulance arrived, though clearly in significant pain.”

Roland praised the immediate community response, noting that several Good Samaritans stopped their vehicles and rushed to assist the wounded officer before official emergency responders could reach the scene. “The response was remarkable—we had five civilians providing aid before police and paramedics arrived,” she added.

Carjacking and Flight to Second Location

Following the airport shooting, the suspect commandeered another vehicle through carjacking and fled the immediate area. The stolen vehicle was tracked by law enforcement as the gunman traveled approximately 16 miles to Richmond Road Baptist Church, where Sunday morning services were in progress.

Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Lexington Police Department and Kentucky State Police, coordinated a pursuit that converged on the church location. The timing of the suspect’s arrival coincided with active worship services, placing dozens of innocent civilians in immediate danger.

Church Attack Claims Two Lives

The situation at Richmond Road Baptist Church escalated into a deadly confrontation when the gunman entered the building and began firing at congregants. According to Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers, the suspect may have had some previous connection to the church congregation, though the exact nature of that relationship has not been disclosed pending further investigation.

Two women lost their lives in the church attack: Beverly Gumm, 72, and Christina Combs, 32. Both victims were reportedly attempting to escape the building when they were fatally shot. The age disparity between the victims underscores the indiscriminate nature of the violence that erupted during what should have been a peaceful Sunday morning worship service.

In addition to the fatalities, two male congregants sustained gunshot wounds and were immediately transported to area hospitals for emergency treatment. One of the wounded men was reported to be in critical condition, while the condition of the second victim was not immediately disclosed by authorities.

Police Response and Suspect Neutralization

The violent spree came to an end when three officers from the Lexington Police Department engaged the gunman in a final shootout within the church premises. The coordinated police response resulted in the suspect’s death, effectively ending the threat to additional civilian lives.

Chief Weathers confirmed that the gunman had been positively identified by authorities, but his name was being withheld pending notification of his family members. This standard protocol allows law enforcement to ensure that relatives are informed through proper channels before public identification occurs.

The wounded state trooper was transported to a nearby medical facility where he was treated for serious but non-life-threatening injuries. According to statements from the Lexington Fire Department, the officer was listed in stable condition following emergency medical treatment.

Community and Official Response

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear addressed the tragic events during a 4:30 PM press conference, where he officially confirmed the deaths of the two church victims and called for community solidarity in the aftermath of the violence.

“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,” Governor Beshear stated. His remarks emphasized both the tragedy of the loss of life and recognition of the coordinated law enforcement response that prevented additional casualties.

Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton also issued a public statement acknowledging the impact of the shooting on the local community. “Like so many communities across the country, today our community has experienced a mass shooting, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries. A state police trooper has also been injured,” she said.

Mayor Gorton emphasized the collaborative relationship between local and state law enforcement agencies, stating, “Our police have a strong partnership with state police. The agencies will work together to fully investigate this tragedy.”

Airport Operations and Investigation

Despite the severity of the initial incident, Blue Grass Airport operations returned to normal relatively quickly following the shooting. A section of Terminal Drive was temporarily closed to allow investigators to process the crime scene, but flight schedules and general airport functions resumed without extended disruption.

Investigators cordoned off a blue Nissan sedan believed to belong to the suspect as part of their evidence collection process. The vehicle became a focal point for forensic examination as authorities worked to piece together the timeline and motivations behind the attack.

Local residents reported observing dozens of police vehicles and emergency response units rushing toward the airport during the initial phase of the incident, indicating the massive scale of the law enforcement response.

Additional Violence Reported

The Sunday morning church and airport shootings were not the only incidents of gun violence reported in the Lexington area that day. A separate shooting occurred at 3:49 AM on Winchester Road, near its intersection with Liberty Road, on the opposite side of town from the airport.

In this earlier incident, three individuals sustained gunshot wounds. A female victim suffered life-threatening injuries, while two male victims were wounded but able to transport themselves to medical facilities for treatment. Authorities have not yet determined whether this pre-dawn shooting has any connection to the later airport and church attacks.

Broader Context of Kentucky Violence

The Lexington incidents occurred on the same day as another shooting near the Run 4 the Roses basketball tournament at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, highlighting a troubling pattern of gun violence across the state on a single Sunday.

While the Louisville incident appears to be unrelated to the Lexington attacks, the coincidence of multiple shooting incidents across Kentucky in one day underscores ongoing concerns about public safety and gun violence in American communities.

Investigation Continues

Law enforcement agencies continue their comprehensive investigation into the motives behind the shooting spree and any potential connections the suspect may have had to the targeted locations. The multi-jurisdictional nature of the crimes has necessitated cooperation between local, state, and potentially federal authorities to ensure a thorough examination of all evidence.

The investigation will likely focus on determining whether the suspect had any prior history of violence, mental health issues, or specific grievances against the institutions he targeted. Understanding the suspect’s background and motivations may provide crucial insights for preventing similar incidents in the future.

As the community begins to process this tragedy, the swift and coordinated response by law enforcement likely prevented an even greater loss of life. The bravery of the wounded state trooper and the decisive action by Lexington Police officers demonstrate the critical role that first responders play in protecting civilian lives during active shooter situations.

The families of Beverly Gumm and Christina Combs, along with the wounded victims and the injured state trooper, remain in the thoughts and prayers of the community as they begin the difficult process of healing from this senseless act of violence.