A man has been charged with three counts of attempted murder after
shooting his girlfriend, their baby and a clergyman at a church in
Alabama, authorities said on Sunday.
James Junior Minter, 26, of
Selma, Alabama, was arrested after opening fire during services at the
Oasis Tabernacle Church in East Selma, Alabama, according to Dallas
County District Attorney Michael Jackson. Jackson said the woman was
Minter's girlfriend and that the shooting stemmed from a domestic
situation.
Witnesses told police that Minter entered the church
and sat in the front row between his girlfriend and the baby, according
to a statement released by the Selma Police Department. Minter then
pulled out a handgun and started shooting, the statement said. The
girlfriend fell to the ground, and Minter fired at her, striking her in
the jaw and shoulder. The baby, a 1-month-old boy, was shot in the hand.
The
church's pastor then grabbed Minter and was shot in the leg. Members of
the congregation helped subdue Minter and managed to wrest away his
gun, according to police. Minter then ran out of the church.
The
pastor was taken to a local emergency room for treatment, while the
woman and baby were taken to a hospital in Birmingham. The victims are
in stable condition.
Minter was captured by police less than a
1.6km away. His vehicle was left at the scene and a gun was recovered at
the church, the statement said.
Minter is being held without bond
at the Dallas County jail. The Selma Police Department said Minter may
face other charges and that a possible motive for the shooting was a
disagreement over child visitation and ongoing domestic violence between
the couple.
Monday, September 21, 2015
Man shoots 3 at Alabama church
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Write comments