LEXINGTON, Ky. (WDKY) – Two people have been killed and three others injured, including a Kentucky State Police officer, after involving a “squared incident” involving one suspect in Lexington on Sunday, when shootings at Baptist Church reached its peak. The suspect was killed by police, authorities confirmed Sunday afternoon.
The Troopers suspended the suspect near Lexington’s Bluegrass airport at 11:30am after receiving the plate reader alert, which they explained at a press conference on Sunday. During a traffic stop, the suspect shot and killed a state trooper before fleeing the scene.
Lexington police confirmed that the shooting was “unrelated” to the airport.
Authorities said he later carjacked the vehicle and drove it. He was tracked by Richmond Road Baptist Church, about 16 miles from the airport.
The suspect whose identity has not yet been released is believed to have ties to the Baptist church, which authorities said they have a small congregation.
Police said four women (two women and two men) were shot and shots occurred on church property.
Police say the 72- and 32-year-old women have died. The two men who were not identified at Sunday’s press conference were taken to a local hospital. One was seriously injured and the other was listed in stable condition.
State police and officers at the Lexington Police Department “we managed to secure a suspect” at Baptist Church. Three Lexington police officers have been discharged from service weapons, Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said Sunday, and the suspect was shot by police.
He was declared dead at the scene.
Police say the injured troopers are stable and are undergoing treatment. Weather believed in the witness who stopped to help the trooper whose identity was not released.
Authorities did not provide details about the possible motivation behind the shooting.
“Sometimes things happen, but we have no reason,” Weathers said Sunday.
Areas around the Baptist Church were blocked and police asked residents to “follow all instructions given by officers and use alternative routes.”
“The officers will remain in the area until the investigation is complete,” authorities said.
Officials at Bluegrass Airport in Lexington reported that law enforcement investigations were affecting nearby roads before 1pm on ET ET. The flight is a schedule and operations are “continuing as usual,” the airport said in a post to X.
“Pray for all those affected by these meaningless acts of violence. Let’s thank the Lexington Police Department and the Kentucky State Police for the prompt response,” Gov. Andy Besher said, “We have confirmed a series of incidents in Lexington that involve one suspect, including a shooting in which a trooper ran.
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