Two women killed in Kentucky church shooting

Two women died in a Sunday shooting at a church in Lexington, Kentucky, after a traffic stop led to a violent incident.

Police say the suspect also died at the scene.

The crime started around 11:30 a.m. when a state trooper pulled over a vehicle near Lexington’s airport. The car had triggered a license plate reader alert. During the stop, the suspect shot the trooper and then carjacked another vehicle to escape, the Associated Press reports.

The suspect drove about 16 miles to Richmond Road Baptist Church and opened fire.

A 72-year-old woman and a 32-year-old woman were shot and killed at the church, according to the report. Two other people were taken to the hospital. One was in critical condition and the other in stable condition.

Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said the suspect was shot by police and died at the scene. The suspect’s name has not been released yet.

The injured state trooper is also in stable condition.

“Preliminary information indicates that the suspect may have had a connection to the individuals at the church,” Weathers said at a news conference.

The church is home to a small, tight-knit congregation, said Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn.

State officials, including Gov. Andy Beshear, expressed grief following the incident.

“Violence like this has no place in our commonwealth or country,” Beshear posted on X. “Please join Britainy and me as we pray for the families of those lost, each one a child of God gone too soon. Thank you to the @lexkypolice and @kystatepolice for their brave efforts today. Kentucky, let’s stand strong together and support our Lexington neighbors during this difficult time.”

Attorney General Russell Coleman shared a similar sentiment.

“We are grateful to the Kentucky State Police and Lexington Police Department, who courageously ran toward danger to protect this community,” he wrote in a statement. “This is another reminder of the grave danger we ask law enforcement to face every single day. We go to houses of worship to gather in fellowship, unite in faith, and reach toward our Creator.

“In light of this tragedy, we turn to God with our prayers for the injured Trooper and the victims’ families,” he added. “The detectives with the Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigations (DCI) stand ready to support both agencies with whatever they need in the days ahead.” ​​

The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing.