Crime
Lexington Richmond Road Baptist Church shooting victims identified as Beverly Gumm and Christina Combs
LEXINGTON, KY – Lexington Police have released additional details surrounding a series of violent events that unfolded Sunday, resulting in the deaths of three individuals, including the suspect, and injuries to several others—among them, a Kentucky State Trooper.
The suspect has been identified as Guy House, who was involved in two connected shootings—one on Terminal Drive where a state trooper was wounded, and another at Richmond Road Baptist Church, where multiple victims were shot.
According to Lexington Police, the incident began around 11:36 a.m. in Fayette County when Guy House allegedly shot a Kentucky State Trooper on Terminal Drive.
Authorities clarified that while this location is near Blue Grass Airport, the shooting was not connected to airport operations.
The injured trooper was transported to a nearby hospital and is listed in stable condition.
Shortly after the shooting on Terminal Drive, House carjacked a vehicle in the 3700 block of Belleau Wood Drive.
No injuries were reported during the carjacking. Leveraging support from the department’s Real-Time Intelligence Center and Air Support Unit, police were able to track the suspect’s movement in the stolen vehicle to Richmond Road Baptist Church, located in the 5800 block of Old Richmond Road.
At approximately 12:30 p.m., police responded to reports of an active shooting at the church involving multiple victims.
Upon arrival, officers confronted House, resulting in an officer-involved shooting. House was fatally shot by police and pronounced deceased at the scene.
Authorities confirmed that two female victims at the church succumbed to their injuries.
They were identified as:
- Beverly Gumm, 72
- Christina Combs, 32
In addition to the deceased, two male victims were also shot and are currently receiving treatment for their injuries at a local hospital.
Two men were also shot:
- Pastor Jeremy Gumm, husband of Beverly
- Randy Combs, husband of Christina
They were transported to UK Hospital, where they are currently being treated for their injuries.
During a press conference, Lexington Police emphasized that the shootings on Terminal Drive and at Richmond Road Baptist Church are connected incidents involving a single suspect.
The shooting at the church is being investigated as an officer-involved shooting, and the Kentucky State Police Critical Incident Response Team has joined the investigation to provide oversight and transparency.
“We ask the public to continue keeping the victims, their families, and the injured trooper in their thoughts,” said a Lexington Police spokesperson. “We are grateful for the rapid and coordinated response of our officers and emergency services.
While these acts of violence are tragic, the swift actions of law enforcement prevented further harm.”
Law enforcement agencies will continue to release updated information as the investigation progresses.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a shooting inside the Austin Central Library that left one person seriously injured and prompted a large emergency response and temporary shelter-in-place order in the downtown area.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), officers responded shortly after 12:00 p.m. to reports of gunfire inside the Austin Central Library, located at 710 W. César Chávez Street.
Upon arrival, police and Austin-Travis County EMS units found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
The individual was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers stated during a press briefing that the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.
After an extensive search, the suspect—identified as 55-year-old Harold Newton Keene—was located and arrested in South Austin at approximately 1:25 p.m.
The library was safely evacuated, and the shelter-in-place alert was lifted shortly after Keene’s apprehension.
Authorities emphasized that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident involving only one suspect and one victim.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” Rogers confirmed.
Preliminary reports and public records reveal that Harold Newton Keene has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple arrests for assault, family violence, terroristic threats, burglary, drug possession, and evading arrest.
He is described by law enforcement officials as a habitual violent offender who has had numerous prior run-ins with police.
Records indicate Keene was previously arrested for threatening a man with a firearm several months ago and, in a separate incident, assaulted another inmate while in custody at the Travis County Jail.
In both cases, prosecutors later declined to pursue charges.
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The Austin Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Austin Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS.