Kentucky police on Sunday said officers fatally shot a gunman who killed two women and wounded a pair of men in an attack at a Lexington church.
The shootout came shortly after the assailant set off a police chase by shooting a state trooper in the middle of a traffic stop.
Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said the suspect, who hasn’t been publicly named, may have a connection to the church where he gunned down Beverly Gumm, 72, and 32-year-old Christina Combs.
The chief said one of the wounded men is in critical condition. The other man and the trooper are both in stable condition.
“Sometimes things happen. We just don’t have a reason why. But we’re going to be here for the people of Lexington,” Chief Weathers said.
Officials said the suspect’s rampage began around 11:35 a.m. after his license plate was flagged by a state trooper near the Blue Grass Airport.
The gunman shot the trooper during a traffic stop, police said, then ditched his vehicle and carjacked another driver. No one was injured in the carjacking.
Police said officers gave chase to the suspect, who drove 16 miles to the Richmond Road Baptist Church.
He opened fire on the congregants before pursuing officers were able to shoot him dead.
Gov. Andy Beshear said he was “heartbroken” by the shooting in a post on X.
“Violence like this has no place in our commonwealth or country. Please join Britainy and me as we pray for the families of those lost, each one a child of God gone too soon,” the Democratic governor wrote.
Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican, also posted on X that he was “saddened to hear about the tragic shootings” involving the state trooper and the churchgoers.
Chief Weathers thanked motorists who assisted the wounded trooper until emergency personnel had arrived.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.
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