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- Two women killed at Kentucky church as gunman opens fire after shooting officer</p>
<p>Brandon Drenon - BBC News, Washington DCJuly 13, 2025 at 11:24 PM</p>
<p>[Getty Images]</p>
<p>Two people have been fatally shot at a church in Kentucky after a car chase that began with a gunman shooting and injuring a police officer, officials said.</p>
<p>The suspect shot a state trooper during a traffic stop before car-jacking a vehicle and driving to Richmond Road Baptist Church in Lexington, where he opened fire at parishioners, before law enforcement shot him dead.</p>
<p>Two women, aged 72 and 32, died in Sunday's attack at the place of worship, and two male parishioners were injured, said police.</p>
<p>Investigators believe the suspect had a connection to individuals at the church. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear posted on X that "violence like this has no place in our commonwealth or country".</p>
<p>The initial shooting occurred at 11:36 local time (15:36 GMT) on Sunday near the Blue Grass Airport, a regional hub in Fayette County.</p>
<p>A state trooper pulled over the suspect's car on Terminal Drive after receiving a registration plate reader alert, Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers told a news conference. He said that incident had no connection to the airport.</p>
<p>The suspect shot the trooper before carrying out a car-jacking during which the vehicle's occupant was not injured, said Chief Weathers.</p>
<p>He said the injured trooper was "in stable condition receiving medical treatment".</p>
<p>The gunman drove towards the church about 16 miles (25km) away, with law enforcement in pursuit.</p>
<p>"The suspect fired his weapon at individuals on church property," Chief Weathers said.</p>
<p>"Preliminary information indicates that the suspect may have had a connection to the individuals at the church."</p>
<p>Four people - two males and two females - were shot on church grounds. The women were pronounced dead at the scene.</p>
<p>An official from the county coroner's office named the two women as Beverly Gum, 72, and Christina Combs, 32.</p>
<p>The two male victims were transported to a local hospital, with one sustaining critical injuries and the other in a stable condition.</p>
<p>"The suspect was shot by responding law enforcement and was pronounced deceased at the scene," said Chief Weathers, adding that the gunman's identity would be released once next-of-kin had been notified.</p>
<p>The county coroner official said the church was small and most attendees were either related or close friends.</p>
<p>"It's a very tight-knit group of people," he added.</p>
<p>The incident is being investigated by the Kentucky State Police and the department's Public Integrity Unit, police said.</p>
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