TWO SHOT DEAD IN KENTUCKY CHURCH

Kentucky Killer Opened Fire In Church After Demanding To Know Where His Ex Was Hiding, Cops Say

 

By Matthew Holloway  

 

Law Enforcement Today 

Jul 18, 2025

 

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, Kentucky, on July 13, 2025. Inset: booking photo of Guy House.

 

LEXINGTON, KY— Guy House, 47, the murderer identified by witnesses during his attack on the Richmond Road Baptist Church, was reportedly searching the church for the mother of his three children when he opened fire, killing Beverly Gumm, 72, and her daughter, Christina Combs, 32.

The suspect also wounded Gumm’s husband, Pastor Jerry Gumm, and Combs’ husband, Randy Combs, before he was shot and killed in a gun battle with three police officers outside the church.

House reportedly forced entry into the Kentucky church on Sunday and demanded to know the location of the mother of his children. Gumm and her daughter, the woman’s sister, Star Rutherford, replied she wasn’t there, Rutherford told the Lexington Herald Leader. 

House chillingly replied, “Well, someone is gonna have to die,” before he opened fire on the women.

According to Rutherford, the women were cooking lunch in the basement of the church fellowship hall. Her mother ducked down and avoided the first gunshot but was struck in the chest by the second and killed.

Fleeing the building, House found Rutherford’s other sister, Christina Combs, outside with her husband and Pastor Gumm and opened fire on the three, killing Christina and wounding the two men.

The outlet reported that House’s rampage began earlier in the day when he was pulled over by a Kentucky State Police Trooper en route to the church near Blue Grass Airport during a traffic stop. House shot and wounded the trooper, fled, and carjacked a vehicle at gunpoint before driving to the church.

House was shot and killed by Lexington Police outside of the church, Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers told a press conference.

"Preliminary information indicates the suspect may have had a connection to the individuals at the church," Weathers said per The Courier-Journal. The suspect had a long criminal history according to court records, including drug use, theft, violating a protective order, burglary, evading police, and resisting arrest. Reporting from ABC News indicated that House was scheduled to appear for a domestic violence hearing Monday.

Investigative Reporter John Lee Riches reported via X, "Kentucky Church Shooter 'Guy House' was on felony probation when he did this shooting today. 2023 arrest for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He has violated probation numerous times. Including just a few months ago. He shouldn't even been on the streets."
 
Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn told reporters, "This church was a small church, and the majority of the individuals there are biologically related in some way or another. If not, they've been friends for many, many years. They're a very tight-knit group of people."

The shooting is under investigation by Kentucky State Police and the Lexington Police Department, Chief Weathers told reporters.

The officers involved are on administrative assignment pending the outcome of the investigation.