Police say the suspect carjacked a vehicle after shooting the trooper and fled to the church where they began shooting at people there.
LEXINGTON, Ky. — A tragic incident occurred Sunday at a church in Lexington, Kentucky, resulting in the deaths of two women during a shooting spree that began when a state trooper was injured following a traffic stop, according to police reports. The individual responsible for both the church and traffic stop shootings was also killed.
Following the traffic stop near Lexington’s airport, the suspect hijacked a vehicle and proceeded to Richmond Road Baptist Church, where he commenced shooting, explained Police Chief Lawrence Weathers. The coroner identified the victims of the church shootings as a 72-year-old woman and a 32-year-old woman.
In addition, two individuals were injured during the church incident and were transported to a nearby hospital, stated the police chief. Among them, one person suffered critical injuries, while the other was reported to be in stable condition, according to Weathers.
The suspect was shot by police and died at the scene, he said. The suspect was not immediately identified pending notification of family, he said.
“Preliminary information indicates that the suspect may have had a connection to the individuals at the church,” the police chief said at a news conference.
The trooper stopped the vehicle after receiving a “license plate reader alert” and was shot about 11:30 a.m., Weathers said. The trooper was in stable condition, he said.
Police tracked the carjacked vehicle to the Baptist church, the police chief said. The church is about 16 miles 26 kilometers) from where the trooper was shot.
The shootings remain under investigation, Weathers said.
Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn said the church is home to a small, tight-knit congregation.
“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,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said in a social media post.
State Attorney General Russell Coleman said detectives with his office were ready to support local and state agencies. “Today, violence invaded the Lord’s House,” Coleman said in a statement. “The attack on law enforcement and people of faith in Lexington shocked the entire Commonwealth.”
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