Gunman opens fire in KY church after wounding trooper, dies at scene

A gunman shot and wounded a Kentucky state trooper Sunday morning, then fled and opened fire at a nearby church in Lexington, killing five people before being fatally shot by police, authorities said.

The violence began around 11:36 a.m., when the trooper responded to a call in Fayette County and was shot, according to Kentucky State Police. The suspect, armed and wearing tactical gear, then fled by vehicle and ended up at Richmond Road Baptist Church in southwest Lexington, where he opened fire during a Sunday service.

Multiple people were injured at the church. Two women have died. The suspect was killed at the scene. Authorities have not released the gunman’s name but said he had a prior arrest record and was armed with multiple legally obtained firearms. The injured trooper remains hospitalized in serious condition.

Officials have not yet identified the gunman, but they confirmed he had a prior arrest record and that the firearms were legally obtained.

The motive remains under investigation. But the setting, a peaceful Sunday service, is all too familiar.

Across the country, it was a brutal weekend. At least 23 people were killed and 72 injured in gun violence incidents, according to verified reports. As of July 13, 2025, the U.S. has experienced 230 verified mass shootings, resulting in 194 deaths and 1,047 injuries this year alone. These verified figures represent only a portion of the overall total and are sourced from incident tracking and law enforcement reports.

The Gun Violence Archive uses a broader definition for mass shootings that includes four or more people shot, not necessarily killed. GVA has logged hundreds of additional shootings so far in 2025.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear condemned the church attack as “an act of evil” and said, “We can’t accept this as normal. We have to do more.”

Kentucky, we are aware of a series of incidents in Lexington around one suspect, including a trooper-involved shooting and an additional shooting at Richmond Road Baptist Church with multiple injuries. The trooper and others are being treated at a nearby hospital. 1/2

— Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) July 13, 2025

While mass shootings connected to political events often dominate headlines, the vast majority unfold in homes, malls, workplaces, and places of worship — leaving families devastated and communities shattered.

In Lexington, a candlelight vigil is planned for Monday evening. For many residents, it’s not just grief they feel — it’s exhaustion.

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