US: Kentucky church shooting leaves two dead

The gunman also wounded a trooper outside an airport before police were able to shoot him to death.

"On July 13, 2025, around 11:36 a.m., Lexington Police Officers were dispatched for a shooting involving a Kentucky State Trooper on Terminal Drive. The Trooper had pulled over a vehicle on Terminal Drive after receiving a license plate reader alert in the area of Versailles Road," Lexington Police said in a statement.

"The Trooper was shot, and the suspect fled. While that shooting occurred on Terminal Drive, it was unrelated to the Blue Grass Airport and did not occur inside the airport terminal," the statement said.

Lexington Police said the condition of the injured trooper was stable.

The suspect carjacked a vehicle in the 3700 block of Belleau Wood Drive before fleeing the area.

"No injuries were reported during the carjacking," police said.

With the assistance of the department’s Air Support Unit and Real-Time Intelligence Center, officers were able to track the vehicle to the Richmond Road Baptist Church in the 5800 block of Old Richmond Road.

The suspect fired his weapon at individuals on church property.

"Preliminary information indicates that the suspect may have had a connection to individuals at the church," police said.

Police said: "Four individuals were shot on church property. Two female victims were pronounced deceased at the scene."

Police said the suspect was shot by responding law enforcement and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

"The suspect’s information will be released after their family is notified," the statement said.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said he was heartbroken by the incident.

"I’m heartbroken to share the shooting in Lexington at Richmond Road Baptist Church has taken the lives of two people. Other injuries — including a Kentucky State Police trooper from the initial stop — are being treated at a nearby hospital. The shooter has also been killed," he wrote on X.