In a tragic series of events on Sunday, two women, aged 72 and 32, were shot dead at the Richmond Road Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky. The violence erupted shortly after a suspected gunman shot a police officer near the Blue Grass Airport, leading to a pursuit that ended at the church about 16 miles away. The attacker, who was later shot dead by police, had known connections to the church community, officials confirmed.
Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers revealed that the initial incident at 11:36 AM local time involved a state trooper pulling over the suspect based on a registration plate alert. However, the situation escalated when the suspect shot the trooper, stole a vehicle, and headed towards the church. Two male parishioners were also injured in the attack, but their conditions remain undisclosed.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear expressed his sorrow on social media, stating, “violence like this has no place in our commonwealth or country.” The wounded trooper is reported to be in stable condition and receiving treatment, as investigations into the shooting continue.
