Two women killed in Kentucky church shooting after trooper shot; suspect killed, police say
Good evening, I’m Sergeant Bads Tower with Lexton Police Department Public Information Office. We’re here today to talk about the shootings that occurred earlier today on Terminal Drive and also Old Richmond Road. Chief Lawrence Weathers will provide an update on the investigation. With this being an ongoing investigation, we’re limited to the information that we can release and we’ll not be able to take any questions today. We’ll continue to provide updates on our social media and also through media releases to our media partners. Chief is joined by representatives in our public safety partnerships today from the Kentucky State Police, the Fayette County Coroner’s office, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, ATF, Lexington Fire Department, the mayor’s office, one Lexington. And representatives from the Bluegrass airport. Chief Lawrence Weathers Thank all of you for being here and, uh, like Sergeant Tory said, it’s ongoing investigation, so there’s not, uh, really *** whole lot of questions I’ll be able to answer, but, uh, um. I will give you, uh, the statement. That I have here. There’s days like today. That are extremely difficult. And before I begin, I would like to extend my condolences to the victims. Their families and everyone impacted by today’s violence. I would also like to wish *** quick recovery to the Kentucky State Trooper who was shot. On July 13, 2025, around 11:36 a.m. Lexington police officers were dispatched for *** shooting involving *** Kentucky state trooper on Terminal Drive. The trooper had pulled over *** vehicle on Terminal Drive after receiving *** license plate reader alert in the area of Valles Road. The trooper was shot and the suspect fled. While that shooting occurred on Terminal Drive, it was unrelated to the Bluegrass airport and did not occur inside the airport terminal. The trooper is in stable condition and receiving treatment, receiving medical treatment. *** short time later, The suspect carjacked *** vehicle in the 3700 block of Bellawood Drive before fleeing the area. No injuries were reported during that carjacking. With the assistance of the department’s air support unit. And real-time intelligence center. Officers were able to track the vehicle to the Richmond Road Baptist Church in the 500 or 5800 block of old Richmond Road. The suspect fired his weapon at individuals on church property. Preliminary information indicates that the suspect may have had *** connection to the individuals at the church. 4 individuals were shot on church property. 2 female victims were pronounced deceased at the scene. The other two victims, both male, were transported to *** local hospital. One victim was reported to have sustained critical injuries, and the other was reported in stable condition. The suspect was shot by responding law enforcement. And was pronounced deceased at the scene. The suspect’s information will be released after their family is notified. Three Lexington police officers fired their service weapons in accordance with the Lexington Police Department’s policies. The officers had their issued, uh, body worn cameras activated. The incident is being investigated by the Kentucky State Police Critical Incidents Response Team. And the department’s public integrity unit will conduct an internal review of the incident as per policy. The officers will be placed on administrative assignment pending the outcome of the investigation. I want to thank all the officers and employees of the Lexington Police Department who have been working on this investigation. There were also communi community members who stopped today to assist the Kentucky State, uh, police trooper. And I want to thank them for their courage and support to help. We also want to thank all of our partners who have been assisting in the investigation, including Kentucky State Police, Fayette County Coroner’s Office, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Fayette County Public Schools Police Department, the ATF, the FBI. Uh, Department of Emergency Management. And our partners at the Lexington Fire Department. Our E911 personnel. And the mayor’s office, uh, With, uh, I mean all of our other partners. Something like this. Has *** huge impact. On our community. I know when people hear about stuff like this, um, They want maybe need some kind of understanding, and I think the city is gonna stand ready with one Lexington to uh help provide assistance to those who are struggling with it. Sometimes things happen. We just Don’t have *** reason why. But we’re going to be here. For the people of Lexington. All of these people up here didn’t hesitate to come out, didn’t hesitate to call. And check on uh the family members and didn’t hesitate to come out. And and Provide support and their service. So I appreciate all of that and thank you for all of that. Um. With that being said, I’m gonna ask uh. Coroner Gin to step up. Thank you. So my office was called. At 12:56, we responded to 5899 Old Richmond Road, which was the Richmond Road Baptist Church. This, like the chief said, this is an ongoing active investigation. There are literally. *** few 100 people that are working this crime scene as well as myself and deputies. Um There’s Uh, church was *** small church and The majority of the individuals that attend the church there are related, um, biologically some way or another, if not, they’ve been friends for many, many years, so it’s *** very tight knit, uh, group of people at the Richmond Baptist Church. Because the family was there and Uh, our Lexington police as well as the KSP conducted interviews about what happened in this investigation. Uh, I was able to notify *** family. Uh, of two deaths, um, and I’m. I can report that. Um, Beverly Gum. Uh, she is *** 72 year old female member of the church. She sustained gunshot wounds that caused her death. And Christina Combs is *** 32 year old lady who also received gunshot wounds which caused her death. We have identified the shooter and uh the shooter as the chief said uh was shot by Lexington police and uh we have not notified the shooter’s family uh typically in *** case like this we will notify the family as soon as we can and um. Once that notification has been made, then we will identify the shooter to the media. Thank you. As I said, um, there’s not *** whole lot of questions I’ll be able to answer. Um, I will take ***, *** couple, and if I can’t answer my will, if I can’t, I’ll just let you know, but only *** couple if anybody has any questions. He have *** criminal. At this time, I’m not at liberty to discuss that, um, those details will probably be released later, but at this time, I won’t, I can’t discuss it. It it appeared on scene that after the shooting had happened, someone else was arrested. Can you confirm that? Uh, I don’t have any information on anybody being arrested. Please Recount what you said that took. Drive with the stage Did the state troop For the suspect Uh, that, that is my understanding, yes, ma’am. Do we know if any of the shooting victims were related, possibly spot? Uh, I’m not going to discuss that right now. The shootings at the church. Uh, that’s part of the investigation, and I think they’re still looking into that. And then as far as at the airport, um, I know that you said that it didn’t happen. At the airport or like right there, but um, do we know how that affected um flights and cancellations if that happened? I wasn’t aware that it affected any, any flights, so like I said before, there were some people on the route to the airport and uh they got out and assisted the trooper. So, um, I don’t know if they suffered any delays or not, but if they did, you know. I, I just wanna say again, I appreciate them for getting out and doing what they did. Uh, we’re gonna follow up with everything that she just said. Thank you all. Please
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Two women killed in Kentucky church shooting after trooper shot; suspect killed, police say
Two women were killed in a shooting Sunday at the Richmond Road Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, after a man shot a state trooper near the city’s airport, officials said. Two men were also injured in the church shooting.The shooting near the Blue Grass Airport unfolded around 11:35 a.m. ET, after the trooper pulled over a vehicle on Terminal Drive after receiving a license plate reader alert.The trooper was shot before the suspect fled the scene and carjacked a vehicle, ending up at Richmond Road Baptist Church about 15 miles away, Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said during a news conference Sunday.Preliminary information suggests the suspect may have had a connection to people at the church, Weathers said without elaborating. The suspect then “fired his weapon at individuals on church property,” he said.Video below: Scene from Kentucky shooting Three responding officers shot the suspect, who was declared dead at the scene.The shooter has been identified, but police did not release his name. The family of the shooter has not been notified, officials said.The victims who were killed were identified as Christina Combs, 34, and Beverly Gumm, 72. The Fayette County Coroner had earlier identified Combs as being 32.The men who were injured in the shooting were transported to the hospital, Weathers said. One man is in critical condition, and the other is stable, he added. The injured trooper is also in stable condition.The first shooting wasn’t connected to the airport, police said, though officials there said it impacted a portion of Terminal Drive. “Our team is on site guiding passengers to open parking. All flights and operations are now continuing as usual,” airport officials said on X.”A very tight-knit group”The church was described as small and its congregants are largely related to one another, Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn said during the news conference.”It’s a very tight-knit group of people at the Richmond Baptist Church,” Ginn said, adding he was able to notify family members of the deaths right away.The church is located in a rural area of Lexington called the Old Richmond Road Corridor. It’s not far from a horse riding school and an alpaca breeder.Its website describes it as an “independent, landmark, sovereign grace, missionary New Testament Baptist Church.” More than 800 of the pastor’s sermons are available on the church’s website.A sermon at the church was livestreamed on Facebook around the time of the shooting. The church pastor, Jerry Gumm, had mentioned death about 10 times in the sermon.Officials thank law enforcement, offer prayers for victimsIn a statement, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear asked 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.Other officials on Sunday offered their prayers for the victims.”Praying for the Kentucky State Trooper injured today and all parishioners injured at Richmond Road Baptist Church,” Rep. Andy Barr said on X. “I’m monitoring this situation very closely and I’m grateful for the State Police and first responders involved in responding.””Today, violence invaded the Lord’s House. The attack on law enforcement and people of faith in Lexington shocked the entire Commonwealth,” Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman said in a statement.In his own statement on X, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said he was “saddened to hear about the tragic shootings.””We are grateful for the brave first responders. Violence like this has no place in Kentucky,” the senator said.This story has been updated with additional information.
Two women were killed in a shooting Sunday at the Richmond Road Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, after a man shot a state trooper near the city’s airport, officials said. Two men were also injured in the church shooting.
The shooting near the Blue Grass Airport unfolded around 11:35 a.m. ET, after the trooper pulled over a vehicle on Terminal Drive after receiving a license plate reader alert.
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The trooper was shot before the suspect fled the scene and carjacked a vehicle, ending up at Richmond Road Baptist Church about 15 miles away, Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said during a news conference Sunday.
Preliminary information suggests the suspect may have had a connection to people at the church, Weathers said without elaborating. The suspect then “fired his weapon at individuals on church property,” he said.
Video below: Scene from Kentucky shooting
Three responding officers shot the suspect, who was declared dead at the scene.
The shooter has been identified, but police did not release his name. The family of the shooter has not been notified, officials said.
The victims who were killed were identified as Christina Combs, 34, and Beverly Gumm, 72. The Fayette County Coroner had earlier identified Combs as being 32.
The men who were injured in the shooting were transported to the hospital, Weathers said. One man is in critical condition, and the other is stable, he added. The injured trooper is also in stable condition.
The first shooting wasn’t connected to the airport, police said, though officials there said it impacted a portion of Terminal Drive. “Our team is on site guiding passengers to open parking. All flights and operations are now continuing as usual,” airport officials said on X.
“A very tight-knit group”
The church was described as small and its congregants are largely related to one another, Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn said during the news conference.
“It’s a very tight-knit group of people at the Richmond Baptist Church,” Ginn said, adding he was able to notify family members of the deaths right away.
The church is located in a rural area of Lexington called the Old Richmond Road Corridor. It’s not far from a horse riding school and an alpaca breeder.
Its website describes it as an “independent, landmark, sovereign grace, missionary New Testament Baptist Church.” More than 800 of the pastor’s sermons are available on the church’s website.
A sermon at the church was livestreamed on Facebook around the time of the shooting. The church pastor, Jerry Gumm, had mentioned death about 10 times in the sermon.
Officials thank law enforcement, offer prayers for victims
In a statement, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear asked 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.
Other officials on Sunday offered their prayers for the victims.
“Praying for the Kentucky State Trooper injured today and all parishioners injured at Richmond Road Baptist Church,” Rep. Andy Barr said on X. “I’m monitoring this situation very closely and I’m grateful for the State Police and first responders involved in responding.”
“Today, violence invaded the Lord’s House. The attack on law enforcement and people of faith in Lexington shocked the entire Commonwealth,” Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman said in a statement.
In his own statement on X, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said he was “saddened to hear about the tragic shootings.”
“We are grateful for the brave first responders. Violence like this has no place in Kentucky,” the senator said.
This story has been updated with additional information.
