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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Two people were killed and three others were injured in a series of shootings in Kentucky on July 13, including a state trooper, authorities said.
The incident occurred around 11:36am in Lexington, Kentucky, when local police responded to a report of a shooting involving a Kentucky State Police officer on Terminal Drive. The road passes Bluegrass Airport in Fayette County.
Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said at a press conference that state troopers pulled vehicles on the road after receiving an alert from license plate readers. The suspect fires the trooper and escapes from the scene before carjacking the vehicle.
According to Weathers, the state troopers were in stable condition and were undergoing treatment. No injuries have been reported in the carjacking incident.
Officers were able to track the vehicle down to Richmond Road Baptist Church, where the suspect fired fire at people on church property. It includes two women who were shot dead and declared dead at the scene, and two men who were taken to a local hospital.
The two murdered victims were identified as 72 and 32 years old, the Fayette County Coroner’s Office said. According to the police chief, of the injured victims, the other was seriously injured and the other was reported in stable condition.
“Preliminary information indicates that the suspect may have had connections with individuals at the church,” Weathers said. “The suspect was shot dead by responding to law enforcement and was declared dead at the scene.”
“Pray for everyone affected by these meaningless acts of violence.”
Earlier on July 13, Kentucky Gov. Andy Besher said in a social media post that state troopers were among those injured in a string of shootings.
Kentucky State Police said in X that the agency and the Lexington Police Department “can secure suspects” for those who are dead.
State police confirmed that there were multiple casualties at the church and that paramedics were on the scene. At least one trooper is “seeing a doctor,” police said.
In another statement regarding X, the Lexington Police Department said the shooting at the church was linked to the officers. The police department added that earlier shootings occurred on Terminal Drive in which state troopers were shot dead.
“The shooting took place on Terminal Drive, but it had nothing to do with Bluegrass airport,” the police department said. Previously, the airport reported that law enforcement investigations “affect some of the terminal drives,” but all flights and operations were operating normally.
“Pray for everyone affected by these meaningless acts of violence. Let’s thank the quick response by the Lexington Police and the Kentucky State Police,” Besher wrote.
Contributed by: Charles A. Ventura, USA Today; Reuters
This is a developing story. to follow @” Regarding additional updates.
