News Summary
A deadly shooting at Richmond Road Baptist Church in Lexington has left two women dead and several others injured. The incident involved a suspect who attacked churchgoers after a police chase. The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave while investigations continue.
Lexington, Kentucky – Three police officers involved in the fatal shooting at Richmond Road Baptist Church on July 13 have been identified as Sergeant Ross Collins, Officer Kyle Blankenship, and Officer Simon Rankin. Sergeant Collins, who has served with the Lexington Police Department for 13 years, is joined by Officer Blankenship, who has been with the department for five years, and Officer Rankin, with eight years of service. All three officers have been placed on administrative leave, following standard department policy.
The shooting incident resulted in the deaths of two women, 72-year-old Beverly Gumm and 34-year-old Christina Combs, who were reportedly mother and daughter. Two men were also injured in the attack, with one in critical condition and the other stable. An injured Kentucky State Police trooper is currently said to be in stable condition as well.
The sequence of events began shortly before noon when the trooper initiated a traffic stop near Blue Grass Airport after receiving an alert on a vehicle’s license plate. The incident escalated when the suspect, identified as 47-year-old Guy House, shot the trooper before fleeing the scene. House subsequently carjacked another vehicle and traveled approximately 15 miles to Richmond Road Baptist Church.
Upon reaching the church, preliminary investigations suggest that House may have had a connection to individuals there. Witnesses reported that House entered the church and opened fire, injuring four individuals. The responding officers then confronted House, fatally shooting him after he was declared dead at the scene.
Beverly Gumm and Christina Combs were both attending church that day. Their husbands, Randy Combs and Pastor Jerry Gumm of the church, were the injured victims. Family members shared that House arrived at the church seeking one of his children’s mothers, which led to the deadly confrontation. Eyewitness accounts indicated that House threatened the congregation prior to the shooting, stating, “someone is gonna have to die.”
The Richmond Road Baptist Church is described as a tightly-knit community predominantly consisting of family members, located in the rural Old Richmond Road Corridor area of Lexington. This incident has sent shockwaves throughout the community, prompting responses from various officials. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has called for prayers for all individuals affected by the violence and expressed gratitude for law enforcement’s rapid response.
In support of the community, other officials, including U.S. Representative Andy Barr and Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, have also expressed their condolences and emphasized the seriousness of the violence involved. The investigation into the church shooting is being handled by local and federal authorities, including the Kentucky State Police, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
As investigations continue, the Lexington community grapples with the aftermath of this tragic event. The shooting not only took two lives but also left several individuals injured, raising concerns about safety in places of worship and community spaces.
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Additional Resources
- LEX18
- NBC News
- ABC News
- CBS News
- Wikipedia: Church shooting
- Google Search: Kentucky shooting July 2025
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Church shooting
Author: STAFF HERE LEXINGTON KY STAFF
LEXINGTON STAFF WRITER The LEXINGTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELexingtonKY.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Lexington, Fayette County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Woodland Art Fair, Crave Food and Music Festival, and Railbird Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like Commerce Lexington and Blue Grass Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in education, manufacturing, and technology that power the local economy such as University of Kentucky, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, and Lexmark. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBowlingGreen.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.
