What we know about the victims of Kentucky church, airport shootings

Valarie Honeycutt Spears, Lexington Herald-Leader on Jul 14, 2025

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A Lexington man went on a crime spree Sunday that ended with three people injured and three people dead, including himself.

He shot and injured a Kentucky State Police trooper outside Blue Grass Airport around 11:30 a.m., carjacked a vehicle in another part of town, and then went to Richmond Road Baptist Church looking for the mother of his children.

She wasn’t there, and House instead shot and killed her mother, Beverly Gumm, and sister, Christine Combs, and shot and injured two other people. Police shot and killed House at the church.

Here’s what we know about the victims:

Beverly Gumm, 72, was the wife of longtime Richmond Road Baptist pastor Jerry Gumm and the mother of eight children. She was preparing lunch in the church’s fellowship hall Sunday afternoon when Guy House came through the back door, asking for one of Gumm’s daughters, the mother of his children.

When Gumm said she wasn’t there, House shot Beverly Gumm in the chest, killing her.

Gumm’s daughters said in an interview with the Herald-Leader that she fed the hungry, homeless and drug-addicted people, and she lived to serve the Lord.

Christina Combs, 34, was Beverly Gumm’s daughter. House shot and killed her outside the church. She was the mother of five children, including a 6-month-old. Combs was set to graduate from nursing school in December. Family members said that, like her mother, Christina Combs loved serving the Lord.

Greg Feeney, President and CEO of Bluegrass Community and Technical College, said Christina Combs was a third-semester nursing student at the Lawrenceburg campus.

“Christina was a remarkable individual, a devoted mother of five and a committed student who worked tirelessly to become the best nurse she could be,” Feeney said in a news release Monday. “Her passion for helping others was evident in every aspect of her life, and her strength, perseverance, and compassion inspired everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.

“Our hearts go out to Christina’s family, classmates, instructors, and all those who loved her. We know her loss will be deeply felt across the BCTC community. Christina’s legacy of resilience and care will not be forgotten,” he said.

Jerry Gumm: The longtime pastor at Richmond Road Baptist, Jerry Gumm was outside the church when he was shot and wounded by House. Gumm was in critical condition Monday, but he was stable at the UK Hospital and had undergone surgery.

Randy Combs: House shot and wounded Randy Combs, Christina Combs’ husband, outside the church, where family members said he was a faithful member. He was in critical condition Monday but was stable at the University of Kentucky hospital.

Kentucky State Police trooper: As of 12:30 p.m. Monday, Kentucky State Police officials had not identified the trooper shot by Guy House. The trooper was wounded on Terminal Drive, outside Blue Grass Airport, after trying to pull House over. Police said Sunday he was stable.