Gunman Shoots State Trooper, Then Storms Kentucky Church—Kills Two Women in Sunday Tragedy

Gunman Shoots State Trooper, Then Storms Kentucky Church—Kills Two Women in Sunday Tragedy

Lexington, Kentucky — On what began as a quiet Sunday morning, the sanctuary of Richmond Road Baptist Church became the scene of horror, grief, and tragedy. Two women were killed, a state trooper was shot, and a community is left trying to make sense of a senseless act of violence that shattered lives in minutes.

A Routine Stop Turns Deadly

The violence began around 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 13, when a Kentucky State Police trooper initiated a traffic stop near Blue Grass Airport. The driver, later identified as 47-year-old Guy House, had been flagged by an automated license plate reader — a routine procedure that officers perform daily.

But this stop was anything but routine.

As the trooper approached the vehicle, House allegedly opened fire, striking the officer. Despite being injured, the trooper managed to call for backup. He was later rushed to a nearby hospital and is expected to survive.

State police later described the attack as an ambush.

A Carjacking and a Change of Direction

Immediately after shooting the trooper, House reportedly carjacked a nearby vehicle and fled the scene. He drove roughly 15 miles across town toward a location that, investigators believe, was no accident — Richmond Road Baptist Church, where a small congregation was gathered inside.

A Sacred Space Shattered

Around noon, as churchgoers were still gathered for service or fellowship, House stormed into the building and opened fire.

Witnesses say the gunfire erupted without warning. Some ran. Others froze. Two women were struck and killed:

  • Beverly Gumm, 72, a retired librarian and longtime member of the church.

  • Christina Combs, 32, a young mother of two and Sunday school volunteer.

Two men were also injured — one critically — as chaos unfolded inside the house of worship.

Emergency crews flooded the scene minutes later. But the nightmare had already taken its toll.

A Violent End

House, still armed and reportedly refusing to surrender, was confronted by responding law enforcement. According to state police, he was shot and killed on site after pointing a weapon at officers.

His motive remains under investigation, but preliminary reports suggest that House may have had a personal or emotional connection to one or more victims at the church.

Community in Mourning

In the hours following the shooting, candles were lit outside Richmond Road Baptist Church. Members of the community hugged one another. Some wept. Others stood silently, in disbelief.

“Beverly was everyone’s grandmother,” said Linda Hart, a fellow church member. “She always had a smile and a peppermint. You just don’t imagine someone like that being taken this way.”

“Christina was full of life,” said Tommy Reeves, a friend of the family. “She taught my son in Sunday school. I just… I can’t wrap my head around it.”

A State in Shock

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear called the shooting “a devastating act of violence,” and praised the quick response of first responders for potentially saving more lives.

“We grieve for the families of those lost,” he said, “and we pray for the recovery of the injured trooper.”

Attorney General Russell Coleman echoed the sentiment, calling the event “an attack on peace itself.”

Searching for Answers

Investigators are still piecing together a timeline, interviewing witnesses, reviewing video footage, and trying to determine what pushed Guy House over the edge.

What’s known so far:

  • The license plate reader system triggered the initial traffic stop.

  • House had no known criminal record but may have exhibited erratic behavior in recent months.

  • The victims were not random, suggesting a targeted attack.

In just under 45 minutes, a man turned a routine traffic stop and a sacred Sunday into a tragedy that now ripples through a state. Families have been torn apart. A church community has been wounded. And a trooper is recovering from injuries sustained in the line of duty.

But through the grief, acts of unity and kindness are beginning to emerge. Prayer circles have gathered. Churches across Kentucky have opened their doors. And thousands have shared condolences and calls for action.

Because while violence may steal lives, it cannot extinguish the love they leave behind.

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