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Slain Pastor Blocked 1st Shot With a Bible

As confetti flew, Illinois parishioners thought it was a skit

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 9, 2009 7:55 AM CDT
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(Newser) – What drove the shooting death of a pastor at an Illinois Baptist church service yesterday remains a mystery, as more details emerge, the Chicago Tribune reports. After exchanging words with the gunman who walked toward him, the pastor blocked the first of four rounds of bullets with a Bible, sending shreds of paper into the air. “When he shot, what you saw was confetti,” said one of about 1200 in the congregation. “We thought it was part of a drama skit.”

After a struggle, the gunman and a parishioner were in serious condition at a local hospital. There was no immediate evidence the suspect had a criminal background, police said. Police identified the man as a 27-year-old and released his address but not his name; local news linked the address to a man of the same age reported to be battling Lyme disease and previously diagnosed as mentally ill.

Law enforcement and other personnel stand at the main entrance to the First Baptist Church Sunday, March 8, 2009, in Maryville, Ill.
Law enforcement and other personnel stand at the main entrance to the First Baptist Church Sunday, March 8, 2009, in Maryville, Ill.   (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
In this 2001 file photo, Rev. Fred Winters, slain in the shooting, is shown.
In this 2001 file photo, Rev. Fred Winters, slain in the shooting, is shown.   (AP Photo/ Steve Nagy)
Detectives remove gun cases from the residence of the suspect in a shooting on Sunday, March 8, 2009 in Maryvillle, Ill.
Detectives remove gun cases from the residence of the suspect in a shooting on Sunday, March 8, 2009 in Maryvillle, Ill.   (AP Photo/ Brian Brueggemann)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
Guest
Mar 13, 2009 2:25 AM CDT
Pastors are not Catholic Priests. They marry. Besides that; the argument that Priests molest boys because they are sworn to celibacy is moronic. Maybe they should be allowed to marry but saying that would stop molestation is cerebrally-challenged. That would mean that every man (yes, even YOU reading this) is a gay child molester but you don't practice it since you are allowed to have intercourse with women.
Guest
Mar 10, 2009 4:29 AM CDT
My first thought too.
Guest
Mar 9, 2009 10:41 PM CDT
damn here i was thinking maybe this pastor molested that guy in the past...oops.

Officials plan to charge man soon
Associated Press

 
crime • murder • Illinois • Bible • gunman • church shootings • shooting • motive • pastor • Bill Maher Grid

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