Two churchgoers have been killed and a state trooper seriously wounded in two shootouts during a gunman’s rampage.
Panicked passengers ran for their lives as shots were fired at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky, about 11.40am, wounding the trooper.
The shooter carjacked a vehicle and fled 16 miles to Richmond Road Baptist Church, where he was cornered by pursuing cops, police said.
Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers reported that the shooter, possibly linked to the church, opened fire on members inside the Baptist church.
Beverly Gumm, aged 72, and Christina Combs, aged 32, lost their lives while attempting to flee, and two men were injured and taken to the hospital, with one in critical condition.
Three officers from the Lexington Police Department shot and killed the assailant, according to Chief Weathers. The shooter has been identified, but his family has not yet been informed.
The wounded deputy was taken to hospital with serious injuries but is in a stable condition, the Lexington Fire Department said.
‘We were the first to the scene after the shooting, barely escaping a head-on crash from the shooter while he drove out of the airport the wrong way,’ witness Gena Roland said.
A state trooper has been seriously wounded in a shootout at a major airport before the gunman fled into a church (street outside pictured) during Sunday service
‘The trooper was thankfully awake and coherent when the ambulance arrived, albeit in a lot of pain.
‘It was intense. There were many good Samaritans that stopped and ran to the trooper. I think we had five of us down there before the cops and paramedics arrived on scene.’
Other locals wrote online that they saw dozens of police and other emergency vehicles rushing to the airport.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced the deaths of the two churchgoers shortly before a 4.30pm press conference identified them.
‘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,’ he said.
Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton also offered her prayers for the victims’ families.
‘Like so many communities across the country, today our community has experienced a mass shooting, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries. A state police trooper has also been injured,’ she said in a statement.
‘Our police have a strong partnership with state police. The agencies will work together to fully investigate this tragedy.’
Part of the airport drive is shut down as local police investigate, but flights and airport operations have since returned to normal.
A blue Nissan, believed to be the shooter’s car, was taped off by police as part of the investigation.
The circumstances of the airport shooting are unclear, as is whether it was inside the terminal or in one of the car parks.
Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky, was thrown into chaos and one man seriously wounded in the shooting about 11.40am on Sunday
The shooter fled to nearby Richmond Road Baptist Church (pictured), where he was cornered by pursuing cops and shot dead. Two churchgoers were killed and two wounded
Three other people were wounded in a third shooting at 3.49am on Sunday on the other side of town to the airport.
A woman suffered life-threatening injuries when she was hit Winchester Road, near the intersection with Liberty Road. Two men were wounded and drove themselves to hospital.
Whether the earlier shooting had any connection to the airport and church rampage is unknown.
Yet another shooter opened fire near the Run 4 the Roses basketball tournament at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, elsewhere in Kentucky, on Sunday.
