by A tragic shooting spree unfolded in Kentucky on Sunday when a gunman opened fire at a church and later shot a state trooper before being fatally shot by police. Authorities confirmed that two women were killed and two men wounded, one critically, at Richmond Road Baptist Church in Lexington.
The violence began earlier in the day near Blue Grass Airport, where the suspect shot a state trooper after being pulled over. The trooper, whose identity has not been released, was reported to be in stable condition at a local hospital.
According to Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers, the suspect carjacked a vehicle and fled to the church, where he opened fire on people gathered on the grounds. Police were able to track the carjacked vehicle to the church and confronted the suspect, ultimately shooting him dead.
Authorities are still investigating the motive, but preliminary information suggests the shooter may have known some of the victims. No details about the suspect’s identity have been released.
“There are days like today that are extremely difficult,” said Chief Weathers. “Sometimes things happen, you just don’t have a reason why.”
Key Details:
- Location of initial incident: Near Blue Grass Airport, Fayette County
- Time of first shooting: Around 11:30 a.m. local time
- Trooper injured: Shot and hospitalized, now in stable condition
- Carjacking: Occurred approximately 10 miles (16 km) from the airport
- Second shooting site: Richmond Road Baptist Church, Lexington
- Casualties:
- 2 women killed
- 2 men injured (one critically)
- Suspect: Shot and killed by police
- Motive: Unknown, but may have had a personal connection to some victims
- Airport operations: Unaffected, road partially closed for investigation
The Lexington Police Department will conduct an internal review of the shooting as part of standard procedure. Meanwhile, authorities continue to investigate the full circumstances behind the violent rampage.
