Three persons are useless, together with the gunman, in a pair of shootings Sunday at Kentucky’s Blue Grass Airport and at a storied Lexington church throughout city, authorities mentioned.
The unidentified shooter struck a Kentucky State Police trooper on a terminal street at Blue Grass Airport at 11:36 a.m., Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers mentioned. The trooper had pulled the gunman over after having acquired a license plate reader alert within the space.
“The trooper was shot and the suspect fled,” Weathers mentioned, including that the trooper was stabilized and receiving remedy.
Legislation enforcement caught up with the shooter at Richmond Highway Baptist Church, about 16 miles to the southeast, the place he additionally opened hearth, Weathers mentioned.
Officers fatally shot the gunman, he mentioned, however not earlier than a minimum of 4 folks on the church have been struck, two fatally.
“Preliminary info signifies that the suspect might have had a connection to the people on the church,” Weathers mentioned. “4 people have been shot on church property.”
Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn recognized the 2 girls pronounced useless on the scene as Beverly Gumm, 72, and Christina Combs, 32.
Requested whether or not any of the capturing victims have been associated, Weathers mentioned “presumably,” however he added he would not expose extra.
Of the 2 male victims shot on the church, one is in crucial situation, whereas the opposite was stabilized, Weathers mentioned.
Ginn mentioned he had not but notified the gunman’s household of his loss of life so he can not but launch his identification, which he mentioned is thought to police.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear addressed the collection of shootings in a put up on X.
“Please pray for everybody affected by these mindless acts of violence, and let’s give thanks for the swift response by the Lexington Police Division and Kentucky State Police,” Beshear wrote. “Particulars are nonetheless rising, and we’ll share extra info as out there.”
The Lexington Hearth Division mentioned it responded to a capturing on the airport at 11:39 a.m. and transported one particular person with “critical accidents” to the hospital, according to NBC affiliate WLEX of Lexington.
Blue Grass Airport confirmed in a press release that an “incident” occurred on airport property. The airport mentioned that it quickly closed a roadway and a terminal as a precaution however that they have been later reopened.
Weathers emphasised the capturing was not associated to the airport.
He mentioned state troopers, together with the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, have been helping Lexington detectives with the investigation.
He had nothing on a potential motive however famous that the church is dwelling to a tight-knit group of worshippers.
State Legal professional Common Russell Coleman thanked first responders in a press release and mentioned he was praying for the households. His workplace was additionally prepared to help the businesses concerned, he added.
“That is one other reminder of the grave hazard we ask regulation enforcement to face each single day,” Coleman mentioned.
CORRECTION (July 13, 2025, 6:57 p.m. ET): A earlier model of this text misidentified the Fayette County coroner. He’s Gary Ginn, not Bob Baker.
Mary C. Carter, Irene Byon, Tavleen Tarrant and Jean Lee contributed.
