LEXINGTON, Ky. — Two women are dead after a shooting at the Richmond Road Baptist Church in Lexington while two men are being treated for injuries, said Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers.
The shooter, who also injured a Kentucky State Police trooper near the Blue Grass Airport, has been killed.
Weathers said the trooper was shot during a traffic stop on Terminal Drive shortly after 11:30 a.m.; the vehicle was flagged by a license plate reader. The suspect then fled and carjacked a vehicle on Bellewood Drive before heading to the church.
Just before 1 p.m., the department said it received calls of a shooting at the church property. Weathers said the suspect shot four people, killing two women and injuring two men, before officers killed the suspect. The officers will be placed on administrative leave while KSP leads an investigation and Lexington’s Public Integrity Unit conducts an internal review.
Weathers said after the initial shooting near the Blue Grass Airport, passersby stopped to help, and he thanked them for their courage.
“Sometimes things happen; you just don’t have a reason why, but we’re going to be here for the people of Lexington,” Weathers said. “All of these people up here didn’t hesitate to come out, didn’t hesitate to call and check on the family members.”
He said the shooting did not take place on airport property and was not aware of it impacting flights; however, the Blue Grass Airport said a portion of Terminal Drive was affected.
In a statement on social media, Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., said, Violence like this has no place in our commonwealth or country. Please join Britainy and me as we pray for the families of those lost, each one a child of God gone too soon."
Lexington Police added the suspect’s information will be released after their family is notified.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.