Two women\u2014Christina Combs (34) and her mother Beverly Gumm (72)\u2014were killed, and two men injured during a shooting on July 13, 2025, at Richmond Road Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky. The violence began around 11:35\u202fa.m. ET when a state trooper on a traffic stop near Blue Grass Airport was shot by the suspect, who then carjacked a vehicle and drove about 15 miles to the church.<\/p>\n
At the church, the suspect opened fire on individuals on the property. Two men were wounded\u2014one in critical condition, the other stable\u2014and the trooper from the initial shooting is also in stable condition. Three responding officers shot and killed the suspect, whose identity remains withheld pending family notification. Officials indicated the suspect may have known members of the congregation, though details are scarce.<\/p>\n
The tight-knit church community, including many family members, was deeply affected. A sermon had been live-streamed on Facebook that day, where Pastor Jerry Gumm mentioned death several times. The victims\u2019 daughter, Rachael Barnes, mourned their loss in emotional Facebook posts and revealed Gumm had written a personal memoir for her. Combs leaves behind her husband and five children, and was studying nursing at Saint Joseph Hospital.<\/p>\n
GoFundMe campaigns for Gumm and Combs have raised over \\$1,200 and \\$1,400 respectively toward their goals. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Congressman Andy Barr, and Senator Rand Paul all expressed condolences and prayers. The investigation is ongoing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"