Two people have been fatally shot at a church in Kentucky by a gunman who had just shot a police officer nearby, officials said.
Two women, aged 72 and 32, died in Sunday’s attack at Richmond Road Baptist Church in Lexington, and two male parishioners were injured, said police.
Investigators believe the suspect, who was shot dead by police, had a connection to individuals at the church.
State police said the wounded trooper was receiving medical treatment. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear offered his condolences on social media, saying “violence like this has no place in our commonwealth or country”.
The initial shooting occurred at 11:36 local time (15:36 GMT) on Sunday near the Blue Grass Airport, a regional hub in Fayette County.
A state trooper pulled over the suspect’s car on Terminal Drive after receiving a registration plate reader alert, Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers told a news conference.
The suspect shot the trooper, “carjacked a vehicle” as he fled and drove towards the church about 16 miles (25km) away, with law enforcement in pursuit.
Lexington Police said the injured trooper was “in stable condition receiving medical treatment”.
“The suspect fired his weapon at individuals on church property,” Chief Weathers told media.
“Preliminary information indicates that the suspect may have had a connection to the individuals at the church.”
Four people – two males and two females – were shot on church grounds. The women were pronounced dead at the scene.
The two male victims were transported to a local hospital, with one sustaining critical injuries and the other in a stable condition.
An official from the Fayette County coroner’s office said the church was small and a “majority” of attendees were either related or close friends.
“It’s a very tight-knit group of people at the Richmond Baptist Church,” official said.
The incident is being investigated by the Kentucky State Police and the department’s Public Integrity Unit, police said.