Survivor who lost his wife and mother-in-law in Lexington shooting ‘has a long road ahead’
One of the men injured in a mass shooting in Lexington on Sunday had been shot twice in the face, according to a GoFundMe account set up to help with his medical expenses.
Randy Combs, a father of five, has “entry and exit wounds behind his left ear, through his left cheek, and under his chin,” according to the GoFundMe account page. “… He is currently still using a breathing tube. Thankfully, recent tests show no damage to his vocal cords so he will slowly regain his speech as he heals.
“He may require reconstructive surgery in the future, but for now he is stable and we are just so very thankful. Randy is alert and communicating with a whiteboard and marker. He has a long road ahead, but we are praying for continued healing and strength each day.”
Combs lost his wife, Christina Combs, and mother-in-law, Beverly Gumm, in the shooting. His father-in-law, Jerry Gumm, pastor of Richmond Road Baptist Church, where the shooting occurred, was also seriously injured.
The GoFundMe page, which had raised $1,764 as of late Friday, says Randy Combs “is devastated” by the loss of his wife and mother-in-law.
“As soon as he regained consciousness and was able to communicate, his first message was to ask about his wife Christina and the safety of their children,” the page states. “His heart is broken, but he lights up when his kids are in the room. That connection is helping him fight hard to recover and be with them again as soon as possible.”
The shootings began at about 11:30 a.m. July 13, when the gunman, Guy House, 47, shot and seriously wounded Kentucky State Police trooper Jude Remilien, who had pulled him over for a traffic stop near Blue Grass Airport.
After shooting Remilien, police said House carjacked a vehicle on Belleau Wood Drive and then went to the church on Old Richmond Road, where he shot the Combses and the Gumms. House died after being shot by police at the church.
Randy Combs and Jerry Gumm are being cared for at University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital “and have a long road ahead of them,” according to a second GoFundMe account set up to help with Randy Combs’ medical expenses and the needs of his children.
That account page says Combs is a longtime Toyota employee. Christina Combs was planning to graduate from nursing school in December.
“Their life was devoted to their children, church and family,” the page states. “Those lives have changed forever.”
The Kentucky State Police Foundation is collecting donations for Remilien and his family.
