On Sunday, a tragic incident unfolded at a church in Kentucky, resulting in the deaths of two women. The sequence of events began with a state trooper being injured during a traffic stop, leading to a shooting rampage that ultimately claimed the lives of the suspect as well.
Following the traffic stop near Lexington’s airport, the suspect commandeered a vehicle and proceeded to Richmond Road Baptist Church, where gunfire erupted, as detailed by Lexington police Chief Lawrence Weathers. The victims of the church shootings were identified as a 72-year-old woman and a 32-year-old woman by the local coroner.
Additionally, two individuals sustained injuries during the church shooting and were promptly transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. One victim was reported to be in critical condition, while the other was stable, according to Weathers.
The suspect, who was fatally shot by law enforcement officers at the scene, has not been publicly identified pending notification of family members, Weathers confirmed. Initial investigations suggest a potential connection between the suspect and the individuals present at the church, as highlighted by the police chief during a press briefing.
The state trooper was targeted after a “licence plate reader alert,” resulting in the trooper being wounded around 11:30 a.m., Weathers disclosed, noting that the trooper was currently in stable condition. Law enforcement authorities were able to trace the carjacked vehicle to the Baptist church, which was approximately 26 kilometers away from the initial shooting site.
The circumstances surrounding the shootings are currently being probed by authorities, Weathers mentioned. Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn noted that the church harbors a close-knit congregation, urging for prayers for all those impacted by these tragic events and acknowledging the swift response by the Lexington Police Department and Kentucky State Police.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear expressed his condolences and gratitude for the rapid actions of law enforcement in a social media post. State Attorney General Russell Coleman pledged support from his office for local and state agencies, condemning the violence that transpired at the church as an assault on both law enforcement and worshippers in Lexington.