Two women are confirmed dead after a pair of shootings—one of them outside a Baptist church in Lexington, Kentucky—took place on July 13, according to local authorities.

Deaths were confirmed by Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers during a news conference. He said the incident began when a trooper pulled over a vehicle on Terminal Drive near Blue Grass Airport.

The suspect then shot the trooper, carjacked a vehicle, fled to the church, and began shooting at people there.

Weathers said four individuals were shot on church property: two women, who were pronounced dead at the scene, and two men, who were transported to a nearby hospital. One of those victims sustained critical injuries, and the other is in stable condition.

Kentucky State Police (KSP) previously reported that a “trooper-involved shooting incident” occurred in Fayette County at 11:36 a.m. local time, but did not specify the location of the first encounter.

“The suspect shot a trooper and then fled the scene, ending up at the Richmond Road Baptist Church, at which time KSP and Lexington Police Dept ... were able to secure the suspect,” KSP reported on social media platform X.

“At this time, we can confirm that the trooper is receiving medical attention. There are multiple victims at the church, and [emergency medical services are] on scene. The suspect is deceased.”

The suspect was shot by responding law enforcement and pronounced dead at the scene, according to Weathers. The suspect was not immediately identified because the family had not yet been notified.

“Preliminary information indicates that the suspect may have had a connection to the individuals at the church,” Weathers said.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear wrote on X: “I’m heartbroken to share the shooting in Lexington at Richmond Road Baptist Church has taken the lives of two people.

“Violence like this has no place in our commonwealth or country. Please join Britainy and me as we pray for the families of those lost, each one a child of God gone too soon. Thank you to the @lexkypolice and @kystatepolice for their brave efforts today.”

Blue Grass Airport released a statement on X confirming that law enforcement was conducting an investigation on Terminal Drive, and that airport employees were guiding passengers to open parking.

“All flights and operations are now continuing as usual,” it said.

In June, a man opened fire outside CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne, Michigan. But a mass shooting was avoided, as he was struck by a vehicle and then fatally shot by security staff.

​​“A parishioner struck the gunman with his vehicle as the gunman shot the vehicle repeatedly,” Wayne Police Chief Ryan Strong told reporters. “At least two staff members shot the gunman, causing the fatal wounds.”

The shooting incident comes less than a week after authorities reported that the Fourth of July holiday weekend was marked with shootings in cities across the country.

Those shooting incidents included one in Indianapolis, which left at least two dead; one in Brockton, Massachusetts, in which six people were hospitalized; and one in Chicago that left seven people in serious or critical condition. The Chicago shooting occurred two days after another shooting that left four people dead and 14 others injured.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.