Suspect Identified in Kentucky Church Shooting

A suspect has been identified in Sunday’s deadly shooting spree in Lexington, Kentucky, that left two women dead, two men wounded, and a Kentucky State Trooper hospitalized.

Law enforcement told LEX 18 that the suspect has been identified as Guy House, a convicted felon with a long criminal history. House was shot and killed by police at the scene. House, who had previously been charged with first-degree fleeing and evading police, resisting arrest, and illegal possession of a handgun in 2022, was not legally allowed to own a firearm. Authorities are now investigating how he obtained the weapon used in the attack. Pictures and videos found online of House show him wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh, which is regularly used to show support for the Hamas terrorist organization.

The two women who were killed have been identified as Beverly Gumm, 72, and Christina Combs, 32. Gumm, a mother of eight, and one of her daughters, Star Rutherford, had been in the church’s basement when House came to the door and asked for one of the Rutherford sisters, who was the mother to his three children, per the Lexington Herald-Leader. When he was told she wasn’t there, he allegedly responded, "Well, someone is gonna have to die, then," and opened fire.

Gumm ducked and avoided the first shot, but the second hit her chest, killing her. House then allegedly went outside and shot another one of the Rutherford sisters, Combs, and injured Gumm’s husband and longtime pastor of the church, Jerry, as well as Combs’ husband, Randy Combs. Rachael Barnes, one of the sisters, told the outlet late Sunday that the two men were in critical but stable conditions.

The violence began just before noon on Sunday, when a Kentucky State Trooper pulled House over on Terminal Drive, near Blue Grass Airport. A license plate reader had flagged the vehicle. As the trooper approached, House opened fire, hitting him. Bystanders jumped in to help the injured officer, who is now in stable condition.

House fled the scene and carjacked a vehicle nearby. No one was hurt during the carjacking. Using surveillance and intelligence tools, police tracked House to Richmond Road Baptist Church. There, he opened fire on churchgoers.

Three Lexington police officers confronted House at the church and shot him. He died at the scene. The officers have been placed on administrative assignment, which is standard during use-of-force investigations.

Senator Rand Paul posted on X, “Saddened to hear about the tragic shootings. Kelley and I are praying for all the victims, the injured trooper, and their families. We are grateful for the brave first responders. Violence like this has no place.”

Governor Andy Beshear said, “Please pray for everyone affected by these senseless acts of violence, and let’s give thanks for the swift response by the Lexington Police Department and Kentucky State Police.”