Two women were killed and two men injured in a shooting on July 13, 2025, at Richmond Road Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, following a series of violent events that began with the shooting of a state trooper near the city’s airport, according to officials.

The incident started at approximately 11:35 a.m. ET, when a Kentucky state trooper conducted a traffic stop on Terminal Drive near Blue Grass Airport after a license plate reader triggered an alert.

During the stop, the trooper was shot by the suspect, who then fled the scene and carjacked a vehicle. The suspect traveled about 15 miles to Richmond Road Baptist Church, where further violence unfolded, Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said during a news conference on Sunday.

Once at the church, the suspect “fired his weapon at individuals on church property,” according to Chief Lawrence. Two women, identified as Christina Combs, 34, and Beverly Gumm, 72, were fatally shot.

Earlier, the Fayette County Coroner had incorrectly listed Christina’s age as 32. Two men were also injured in the church shooting. One remains in critical condition, while the other is in stable condition. The trooper injured in the initial shooting is also in stable condition.

The suspect was shot and killed by three responding officers at the church. Police confirmed his identity but have not released his name, citing the need to notify his family.

Officials said preliminary information suggests the shooter may have had a connection to individuals at the church, though no further details were given.

Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn noted that the Richmond Road Baptist Church congregation is “a very tight-knit group of people,” with many members related to each other. He also stated that he was able to notify the victims’ families quickly.

The church, located in the rural Old Richmond Road Corridor of Lexington, is near a horse riding school and an alpaca breeder.

According to its website, Richmond Road Baptist Church identifies as an “independent, landmark, sovereign grace, missionary New Testament Baptist Church,” as reported by CNN. Over 800 sermons from its pastor, Jerry Gumm, are available on the church’s website.

At the time of the shooting, a sermon was being live-streamed on Facebook. During the church service, Pastor Jerry had mentioned death approximately ten times.

Beverly’s final post on Facebook came two days before the shooting. On July 11, she shared an image with a motivational quote that encouraged perseverance, emphasizing the importance of continuing forward regardless of emotions or circumstances.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, Rachael Barnes took to Facebook to express her sorrow over the loss of her mother and sister. In one post, she wrote that she loved her mother, Beverly, and her younger sister, Christina, adding that she could not believe the situation was real.

In another post, she reflected on her final moments with her mother, stating she would not have left her side had she known it would be their last day together, sharing the message alongside a photo of the two of them.

Rachael also revealed that her mother had once written a book at her request. The book was filled with stories about Beverly’s children, friends, and family. She explained that she wanted the book as a way to stay connected to her mother after she passed.

She recalled telling her mother that she would need her advice once she was gone. Beverly completed the book last year. Rachael said she never imagined she would be reading it so soon.

According to a post on Rachael’s Facebook account, Christina has left behind her husband, Randy Combs, and five children. She worked at Saint Joseph Hospital and was studying to be a nurse, set to graduate in December.

Fundraisers have been launched for both victims on spotfund.com. As of July 14, more than $1,000 of a $5,000 goal has been raised for Beverly, while over $700 has been raised toward a $10,000 goal for Combs. Additional donations are expected.

Several state leaders addressed the shooting on social media. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed there were multiple incidents in Lexington involving one suspect, including a trooper-involved shooting and a separate shooting at the church. He added that the injured individuals were receiving care at a local hospital.

Congressman Andy Barr stated that he was praying for the injured trooper and all those hurt at the Richmond Road Baptist Church. He said he was monitoring the situation closely and thanked the state police and first responders for their efforts.

Senator Rand Paul also commented on the incident, expressing sadness over the shootings at both locations. He shared that he and his wife, Kelley, were praying for the victims, the trooper, and their families. He also emphasized that violence has no place in Kentucky.

Authorities continue to investigate the incident as the community grapples with the aftermath of the violence.