Two major shooting incidents have shaken Kentucky within a single day, with one deadly shooting at a church following an airport ambush, and another active shooter scare at a busy family fairground just an hour away.
On Sunday morning, a Kentucky State Trooper was shot at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington around 11:36 a.m. The gunman then fled across town to Richmond Road Baptist Church, about 16 miles away. According to the Kentucky State Police (KSP), multiple people were injured at the church before the suspect was killed.
“The suspect shot a trooper and then fled the scene, ending up at the Richmond Road Baptist Church, at which time KSP and Lexington Police Dept. … were able to secure the suspect,” the agency said in a statement on X. “At this time, we can confirm that the trooper is receiving medical attention. There are multiple victims at the church, and EMS is on scene. The suspect is deceased.”
Governor Andy Beshear also confirmed the incident, writing: “Kentucky, we are aware of a series of incidents in Lexington around one suspect, including a trooper-involved shooting and an additional shooting at Richmond Road Baptist Church with multiple injuries. The trooper and others are being treated at a nearby hospital.”
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While Kentucky was still processing the morning tragedy, chaos erupted again in Louisville. Just hours after the Lexington attack, an active shooter was reported at the Kentucky Exposition Center, where summer fairgrounds were filled with families.
According to Louisville Metro Police Department, the area was immediately locked down. “We are aware of a report of an ‘Active Aggressor’ on the property of the Fairgrounds in Louisville. At this time, there are NO victims found yet. Please avoid the area due to a heavy police presence,” they said.
Witnesses described the terror and confusion. One person posted on social media: “The park is on lockdown, my family and I are here and we’re locked down in a bathroom with maybe 150 people. Everyone is taking cover in buildings.”
As of now, it is unclear whether anyone has been hurt in the Louisville incident, but the presence of law enforcement was heavy, and the area remained closed to the public.
Officials have confirmed that the shooter in the Lexington incident is dead, and that the Expo Center situation appears to be a separate and unrelated case.
Despite the lack of direct connection, the two events occurring so close together in time and geography have created a sense of unease across the state. Law enforcement agencies are urging the public to stay alert and avoid affected areas while investigations continue.
Kentucky residents are shaken by the day’s violence, as communities grapple with fear and confusion. With one gunman dead and another still at large, the calls for answers and safety are growing louder.
Featured image via Screengrab
