Two women killed in shooting at Kentucky church

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Police say four people were shot at a church Sunday morning in an incident involving a suspect accused of shooting a state police trooper. Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said the trooper pulled over the suspect Sunday morning after noticing that the suspect’s license plate matched the description of a vehicle involved in a crime. After the trooper pulled him over, the suspect shot the trooper, committed a carjacking, and fled the scene, Weathers said.

Some witnesses came to the trooper’s assistance, and the officer was hospitalized. As of Sunday afternoon, the trooper’s condition had stabilized, according to Weathers.

How did the church become involved? Police tracked the carjacked vehicle to Richmond Road Baptist Church in Lexington, Weathers said. After arriving at the church, the suspect opened fire, hitting four people. Two women, a 72-year-old and a 32-year-old, were pronounced dead at the scene, according to Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn. Two men at the church also suffered gunshot wounds, according to Weathers. One of them was listed in critical condition as of Sunday afternoon, while the other’s condition had stabilized, Weathers said.

Three Lexington police officers fired on the suspect, killing him. Weathers said their actions followed agency policy. All three have been placed on administrative reassignment pending the outcome of a Kentucky State Police investigation.

Why did the suspect attack members of the church? Investigators believe the suspect had some connection with the members of the church, according to Weathers. Ginn described the church as a small, tight-knit community where many of the members were either close friends or blood relatives. As of Sunday evening, however, police had not identified a motive.

“Sometimes things happen,” Weathers said. “We just don’t have a reason why. But we are going to be there for the people of Lexington.”