Incident Summary – July 13, 2025

Incident Summary – July 13, 2025

A terrifying chain of events unfolded on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Lexington, Kentucky, involving two coordinated shootings:

1. Initial Shooting Near Blue Grass Airport

   • At approximately 11:36 a.m., a Kentucky State Police trooper stopped a vehicle flagged by a license plate reader on Terminal Drive, outside the airport.

   • The suspect opened fire, critically wounding the trooper. The trooper has since been reported in stable condition The Independent+15AP News+15ABC17NEWS+15KCRA+11ABC17NEWS+11People.com+11KCRA+3People.com+3New York Post+3.

2. Carjacking and Pursuit

   • The suspect fled, carjacked another vehicle—fortunately without harming the driver—and drove about 15–16 miles to Richmond Road Baptist Church The Independent+1Wikipedia+1Axios+15WUKY+15AP News+15.

3. Church Shooting at Richmond Road Baptist

   • Upon arrival, the gunman opened fire inside the church.

   • Two women were killed:

     • Beverly Gumm, age 72

     • Christina (or Kristy) Combs, age 34 (initially misreported as 32) Wikipedia+13Axios+13WBAL-TV+13New York Post+14ABC17NEWS+14The Independent+14.

   • Two men were also injured; one remains in critical condition, the other is stable WTVQ+7People.com+7WUKY+7.

4. Police Response and Suspect Neutralized

   • Multiple law enforcement officers, including Lexington and Kentucky State Police, responded swiftly and fatally shot the suspect at the scene WPBF+3FOX 4 News Fort Myers WFTX+3News Channel 5 Nashville (WTVF)+3News Channel 5 Nashville (WTVF)+15AP News+15People.com+15.

🔍 Additional Details

• Connection to the Church: Authorities indicate the shooter may have known some of the victims or had ties to the congregation—a small, close-knit community where many members are related or longtime friends Gulf Coast News Now+7WUKY+7People.com+7.

• Official Statements:

  • Gov. Andy Beshear called for unity and prayer, saying: “Please pray for everyone affected by these senseless acts of violence, and let’s give thanks for the swift response by the Lexington Police Department and Kentucky State Police.” Gulf Coast News Now+15Axios+15WTVQ+15

  • Police Chief Lawrence Weathers expressed sorrow, noting Kentucky was shaken by violence that struck both law enforcement and people of faith New York Post+7WUKY+7AP News+7.

• Official Investigation: The Kentucky State Police’s Critical Incident Response Team and Lexington Police Public Integrity Unit are leading the investigation. All responding officers are on administrative duty pending review WUKY.

💔 Impact & Community Response

• This incident has deeply shaken Lexington—a community rooted in faith and familial bonds.

• The trooper’s stable condition provides cautious relief amid the tragedy.

• An ongoing search for motive continues, although none has been confirmed. Balancing grief with calls for healing and unity, state leaders are encouraging collective support for victims, first responders, and congregants.