Two women were killed and several others injured in a deadly shooting spree in Lexington, Kentucky on Sunday, which began at a local church and ended with the suspect being fatally shot by police.
According to Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers, the violence began late Sunday morning at Richmond Road Baptist Church, where the suspect opened fire, killing two women and wounding two men—one of whom remains in critical condition.
“This is one of those days that is extremely difficult,” Chief Weathers said at a press conference. “Sometimes things happen, and you just don’t have a reason why.”
Authorities have not released the identity or age of the suspect, who was killed by police following a dramatic pursuit that began after he shot and injured a Kentucky State Trooper near Blue Grass Airport around 11:30 a.m. The trooper, who had pulled the suspect over on a road surrounding the airport, was later taken to a nearby hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.
Police say the road where the trooper was shot is adjacent to Blue Grass Airport but did not impact airport operations. The airport confirmed via social media that a portion of a road had been closed for a law enforcement investigation but stated that all flights and services continued as normal.
Following the confrontation near the airport, the gunman reportedly carjacked a vehicle roughly 16 kilometres away and drove it to Richmond Road Baptist Church, where the second and deadliest phase of the incident unfolded. Police were able to track the carjacked vehicle to the church grounds, where they located the suspect.
Chief Weathers indicated that there is some evidence to suggest the suspect may have known some of the people at the church, although no clear motive has yet been identified. “At this point, it is too early to say definitively what led to these tragic events,” he said.
The police chief confirmed that an internal review of the shooting will be conducted, in line with department procedures following any officer-involved shooting.
The identities of the victims have not yet been released, and authorities say investigations into the motive and sequence of events are ongoing.
The incident marks yet another grim chapter in America’s ongoing struggle with gun violence, bringing renewed attention to the safety of public and religious spaces.
