Suspected Kentucky church shooter had a domestic violence hearing the
next day
[July 15, 2025]
By BRUCE SCHREINER
The man accused of killing two women in a shooting rampage at a Kentucky
church after wounding a state trooper had been expected in court for a
domestic violence hearing on Monday, a local official said.
In a chilling account of Sunday's attack, Star Rutherford, a relative of
the two slain women, said Guy House went to the Lexington-area church
looking for one of her sisters but was told she wasn't there.
He declared: “Well I guess someone’s going to have to die then,” and
shot her mother, 72-year-old Beverly Gumm, in the chest. Rutherford
spoke to the Lexington-based broadcaster WKYT-TV. House later killed
Christina Combs, who media reports said was another of Rutherford’s
sisters. Two men were also critically wounded, police said Monday.
House went to Richmond Road Baptist Church seeking the mother of his
children but his domestic violence hearing did not involve her, the
Lexington Herald-Leader reported, citing Rachael Barnes. She identified
Gumm and Combs, 34, as her mother and sister.
Matt Ball, a deputy clerk for family court in Fayette County, confirmed
to The Associated Press that House had been scheduled for the domestic
violence hearing on Monday.
Authorities have offered no motive and the investigation was ongoing.
Officers confronted House, 47, in a rear parking lot after the shootings
at the close-knit rural church where many members are related or close
friends. At least three Lexington police officers fired, striking House
and resulting in his death, authorities said.
The trooper is in stable condition, and authorities have not identified
the wounded.
Sunday's violence began when House shot the trooper during a traffic
stop near Lexington's airport, police said. House then fled, forcibly
stole a vehicle and opened fire at the church about an hour later,
police said.
The trooper stopped House after receiving a “license plate reader
alert,” police said. House had active arrest warrants and he shot the
trooper as the officer interacted with people in the vehicle, Kentucky
State Police Sgt. Matt Sudduth said Monday. The others in the vehicle
were not involved in the shooting, did not flee and have cooperated with
investigators, he said.
[to top of second column]
|
Police stand at the front of the Richmond Road Baptist Church as
other officers maintain a perimeter following a shooting at the
church in Lexington, Ky., Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Timothy
D. Easley)
A woman who witnessed that shooting said it initially appeared to be
a routine traffic stop, with the trooper talking through an open
window.
“And as we were driving by, I heard, ‘pop, pop’ and I knew it was
gunshots,” Larissa McLaughlin told WLEX-TV in Lexington.
Police credited several people for coming to the trooper's aid
immediately.
“Without the assistance of several Good Samaritans, this likely
could have been a very life-threatening injury,” Sudduth said. He
didn't offer details on what aid was provided and said police were
working to identify them.
Officers tracked the stolen vehicle to the church about 16 miles (26
kilometers) from where the trooper was shot, police said.
“Please pray for everyone affected by these senseless acts of
violence,” Gov. Andy Beshear said Sunday, “and let’s give thanks for
the swift response by the Lexington Police Department and Kentucky
State Police.”
State Attorney General Russell Coleman said Sunday that detectives
with his office were ready to support local and state agencies,
saying, “Today, violence invaded the Lord’s House.”
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
