Fatal Shooting at Lexington Church Leaves Two Dead, Including Suspect
Lexington, KY — Two people are dead following a violent incident at a Lexington church on Sunday, July 13, after a suspect shot a Kentucky state trooper and was subsequently killed by police, authorities confirmed.
The shooting occurred just after 10:30 a.m. at a church in the 1200 block of Tates Creek Road, during Sunday morning services. Lexington Police responded to multiple 911 calls reporting an active shooter on the premises.
Incident Details
According to the Kentucky State Police (KSP), the suspect entered the church and opened fire, fatally injuring one congregant. A state trooper, responding to the emergency call, was shot by the suspect outside the building. The trooper was transported to UK HealthCare with non-life-threatening injuries and is currently in stable condition, officials said.
Responding officers engaged the suspect, resulting in the suspect being shot and pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not released the identities of the victims or the suspect, pending notification of next of kin.
Community Response and Ongoing Investigation
Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton expressed condolences to the victims' families and praised the swift response by law enforcement. "This is a tragic day for our city. Our thoughts are with the affected families and our brave officers," she said in a statement.
The Kentucky State Police is leading the investigation, assisted by the Lexington Police Department and federal authorities. Law enforcement officials have not identified a motive but stated there is no ongoing threat to the community.
Church Security and Recent Trends
This incident comes amid ongoing national concerns about security in places of worship. Recent years have seen increased emphasis on active shooter preparedness and emergency response protocols at churches and other public gathering sites across the United States.
Authorities urge anyone with information or video footage of Sunday's incident to contact Lexington Police or the Kentucky State Police tip line.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
