Small gathering lays ashes of wrongfully convicted man to rest, as family seeks probe
Glen Assoun died June 14, 2023, but the family postponed interring his ashes until a gathering Monday, presided over by Rev. David Watt, a Baptist minister who stood by his friend over the years.
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Winnipeg Free Press
14-07-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Suspect in Kentucky church shooting had a domestic violence hearing the next day
The man accused of a shooting rampage Sunday at a rural Kentucky church after wounding a state trooper had been expected in court Monday for a domestic violence hearing, a local official said. Police say Guy House, 47, shot the trooper during a traffic stop near Lexington's airport, fled in a carjacked vehicle then opened fire at Richmond Road Baptist Church, killing two women and wounding two men before officers fatally shot him. House went to the church looking for the mother of his children but his domestic violence hearing did not involve her, the Lexington Heald-Leader reported, citing a sister of the woman, Rachael Barnes. Matt Ball, a deputy clerk for family court in Fayette County, confirmed to The Associated Press that House had been scheduled for the domestic violence hearing on Monday. Police say Beverly Gumm, 72, and Christina Combs, 34, were killed in the shooting. One of the wounded men was being treated for critical injuries and the other was in stable condition, police said. The trooper was in stable condition, police said. 'Preliminary information indicates that the suspect may have had a connection to the individuals at the church,' Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said at a news conference Sunday. The shootings remain under investigation, Weathers said. The trooper stopped House after receiving a 'license plate reader alert,' police said. Sundays Kevin Rollason's Sunday newsletter honouring and remembering lives well-lived in Manitoba. A woman who witnessed that shooting said it initially appeared to be a routine traffic stop, with the trooper talking to the suspect through an open window. 'And as we were driving by, I heard, 'pop, pop' and I knew it was gunshots,' Larissa McLaughlin told WLEX-TV in Lexington. Police tracked the carjacked vehicle to the Baptist church about 16 miles (26 kilometers) from where the trooper was shot, police said. Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn said the church is home to a small, tight-knit congregation. In a post on social media, Gov. Andy Beshear said, 'Please pray for everyone affected by these senseless acts of violence, and let's give thanks for the swift response by the Lexington Police Department and Kentucky State Police.' State Attorney General Russell Coleman said detectives with his office were ready to support local and state agencies. 'Today, violence invaded the Lord's House,' Coleman said in a statement. 'The attack on law enforcement and people of faith in Lexington shocked the entire Commonwealth.'
Toronto Sun
13-07-2025
- Toronto Sun
Multiple people hurt in Kentucky church shooting; suspect killed, police say
Published Jul 13, 2025 • Last updated 3 minutes ago • 1 minute read A file photo of police crime scene tape. Photo by Postmedia Network / file photo LEXINGTON, Ky. — Multiple people were injured on Sunday in shooting at a Kentucky church after the suspect shot and wounded a state trooper, authorities said. After shooting the trooper, the suspect ended up at Richmond Road Baptist Church in southwest Lexington, where there were multiple injuries, Kentucky State Police said. The suspect was killed, state police said, but the agency did not provide additional information. The trooper was shot at 11:36 a.m. in Fayette County, where Lexington is located, state police said. The suspect then fled the scene, ending up at the Baptist church, police said. A shooting took place at the church with multiple injuries, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said in a social media post. The trooper and others were being treated at a nearby hospital. The extent of the injuries was not immediately known. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Please pray for everyone affected by these senseless acts of violence, and let's give thanks for the swift response by the Lexington Police Department and Kentucky State Police. Details are still emerging, and we will share more information as available. 2/2 — Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) July 13, 2025 Golf Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA Toronto Raptors Toronto & GTA
CBC
17-06-2025
- CBC
Small gathering lays ashes of wrongfully convicted man to rest, as family seeks probe
In a quiet grove at the edge of a Halifax cemetery, the family of a wrongfully convicted man laid his remains to rest and said his fight for justice lives on. Glen Assoun died June 14, 2023, but the family postponed interring his ashes until a gathering Monday, presided over by Rev. David Watt, a Baptist minister who stood by his friend over the years. "We laid him here to rest.… But I feel like the real rest will happen when we have a resolution and some people are held accountable," said his daughter Amanda Huckle following the small gathering. In March 2019, a Nova Scotia court acquitted Assoun in the 1995 killing of his ex-girlfriend, Brenda Lee Way. During 17 years in prison and five years under strict bail conditions, Assoun developed heart illnesses and suffered from mental illnesses. He only received a compensation settlement from the federal and provincial governments about two years before he died at the age of 67. Almost five years ago, the province requested the police oversight body begin a formal probe into whether officers broke the law when they destroyed evidence relevant to Assoun's case. In March 2021, the Nova Scotia police watchdog announced that to ensure transparency, its counterpart in British Columbia had agreed to be on the investigation. But on Nov. 30, 2023, Nova Scotia's agency announced the B.C. watchdog had dropped the case due to a heavy workload. Since then, the agency has reached out to multiple police oversight bodies and has struggled to find one that will take the case. Erin Nauss, the director of the Serious Incident Response Team, said in an email Monday that she had "hoped to have an update," but isn't yet in a position to share information about the next steps. "I want to assure you that my focus and our work on moving this investigation forward has not wavered. I will provide an update when there is more to say," she wrote. Huckle said the family's expectations aren't wavering, as this is an important part of how they can move forward. "This (interment) is closure for us in some aspects but there's still that lingering door that is still open," she said. During the ceremony, Assoun's ashes were placed in a marble bench inscribed with the Gibson guitars he loved to play. Family members each touched the sides of the enclosure. Tanya Assoun, his eldest daughter, read an April 19, 2009, letter he'd written to her from prison, telling her he missed her and advising, "Be strong and think positive … set your bar high. Through the grace of God justice will prevail." "He always wanted the best for me," she said after the service. "Even though he was in prison, he would always say those things to me." During the gathering, Watt read Bible verses and recalled "the blessing of memories," including sitting and eating meals with Assoun, who was his roommate for two years after his release. As the group walked away from the secluded spot, Watt said his friend would have liked the nature path and the tranquil spot where his bench is set. The only sound through the day was of a slight June breeze. Amanda Huckle agreed. "My dad deserved peace. He deserves this peace," she said.
