A man, suspected of a shooting at a rural Kentucky church, expressed a disturbing sentiment when he found out a specific victim was absent, stating, “someone has to die.”
On a Sunday afternoon, Beverly Gum and her daughter, Star Rutherford, were preparing lunch for the congregation at Richmond Road Baptist Church in Lexington when they encountered the shooter, identified as Guy House.
When they informed him that the intended target was not present, he replied ominously.
Rutherford recounted the moment, saying, “Well, someone needs to die.” Sadly, Gum, a 72-year-old mother of eight, dodged the first bullet but was fatally struck a moment later.
The chaos did not stop there; the shooter left the church and went on to kill another sister of Rutherford, Christina Combs, who was 34 years old.
He also shot Gum’s husband, Randy Combs, who is the pastor of the church.
When law enforcement arrived, a shootout ensued, resulting in the suspect’s death.
The injured individuals were quickly taken to the University of Kentucky Hospital for treatment.
Rutherford shared updates on Facebook about her uncle Randy Combs, stating he was “waking up,” while her father, Jerry Gum, remained “sedated from surgery.”
She emphasized her mother’s devotion, describing her as a “faithful member of the God-loving church.”
Another sister, Rachel Burns, revealed that Christina Combs had recently given birth and was set to graduate from nursing school in December.
The unfortunate events began earlier at Bluegrass Airport around 11:30 a.m., where the gunman was detected by a license plate reader and subsequently stopped by a state trooper.
During this encounter, the suspect shot the trooper before fleeing, putting him in considerable danger.
Witness Larissa McLaughlin recalled being at the airport and witnessing the beginnings of the violence while returning a rental car. She reported hearing gunshots and immediately ran for help.
Her husband called 911, and around the same time, McLaughlin found an injured trooper to assist.
After fleeing the airport, the suspect stole a vehicle and drove about 15 miles to the church.
The injured trooper is currently hospitalized and remains stable despite serious injuries.
Investigators are still trying to ascertain the motives behind the shooting.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear urged residents to show gratitude toward law enforcement for their prompt response, expressing sympathy for those affected by this violent act.
Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton echoed these sentiments, offering prayers for the victims’ families while acknowledging the tragedy that unfolded in their community.
