Pastor Killed in Ill. Church Shooting

Three others injured, including suspect
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Mar 8, 2009 2:08 PM CDT
Pastor Killed in Ill. Church Shooting
Onlookers watch as authorities investigate the scene at Maryville First Baptist Church, Sunday morning, March 8, 2009, after a man shot a pastor to death and injured others at the church.   (AP Photo/Edwardsville Intelligencer, Marci Winters-McLaughlin)

Illinois state police say a man shot a pastor to death and injured others at a church during a service in Maryville. Master Trooper Ralph Timmins says the man walked down the aisle during the early Sunday service at First Baptist Church in Maryville, exchanged words with pastor Fred Winters, and then pulled out a .45-caliber handgun.

Timmins said the man fatally shot Winters once before the gun jammed, then pulled out a knife and wounded himself. Churchgoers tried to subdue the attacker and two of them suffered minor injuries. Officials don't know if Winters and the suspect know each other. Maryville is about 20 miles northeast of St. Louis. (More church shootings stories.)

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