A man, identified as Guy House, was scheduled to appear in court on Monday for a domestic violence hearing. The hearing was unrelated to the events that unfolded on Sunday.
According to Star Rutherford, a relative of the victims, House went to the Richmond Road Baptist Church looking for one of her sisters. When he was told she wasn't there, he reportedly declared that someone would have to die and then shot Beverly Gumm, Rutherford's mother, in the chest. House later killed Christina Combs, another of Rutherford's sisters. Two men were also critically injured in the shooting.
The shooting at the church occurred after House shot a state trooper during a traffic stop near Lexington's airport. House then fled the scene, stole a vehicle, and proceeded to the church. The trooper is in stable condition.
Police confronted House in the church's parking lot after the shootings. Officers fired at House, resulting in his death. The investigation into the motive behind the shootings is ongoing.
The violence began when the trooper stopped House after receiving a license plate reader alert. House had active arrest warrants at the time. The others in the vehicle during the initial traffic stop were not involved in the shooting and have cooperated with investigators.
6 Comments
Coccinella
Why did he target the church? This is so devastating. I am speechless.
Muchacho
The mental health aspect of this needs to be thoroughly investigated. Regardless, it is not an excuse for his actions.
Habibi
The church is a place to find peace. How horrifying that this happened there.
ytkonos
The news reports focus on the shooter, not the victims. It sickens me.
lettlelenok
Grateful for this helpful recounting of the information.
dedus mopedus
The fact that he was armed and had warrants... did the police know he was dangerous? What could have been done to prevent this?