Pursuit Of Fugitive Kills A Pastor At Texas Methodist Church

Ilustrasi (Unsplash / Max Kleinen)

JAKARTA - The shooting incident by a fugitive at the Methodist Church in East Texas, United States (US) killed a pastor and injured two other people. What is the chronology?

Launching CNA, Monday, January 4, the shooter initially hid in the bathroom of the church because he was being chased by the police. The fugitive's hideout was discovered by the church priest.

Feeling threatened, the church pastor then pulled out a gun and asked the fugitive to surrender. But the fugitive turned things around instead. He grabbed the gun and shot the priest.

The priest died on the spot, while two other people who were inside the church were injured by gunfire. Because of panic, the perpetrator seemed to steal the pastor's vehicle and fled to the East.

Upon a swift search, the authorities then arrested the perpetrator. Currently, the perpetrator is being treated in hospital for a gunshot wound to his hand. However, Sheriff Smith County Larry Smith declined to specify when the perpetrator's hand was shot.

Even so, Smith refused to identify pastors, other injured people or suspects. Smith only said the shooting suspect would likely face charges of murder.

Smith added that the man initially only took shelter in the church. Therefore, so far there has been no evidence to suggest that the bridging actors were motivated by religious hostility. "It's not a church-related offense, it's religion-related," said Smith.

For that incident, the Governor of the State of Texas Greg Abbott condolences to the families of the victims. "Our hearts are with the victims and the families of those who were killed or injured in this terrible tragedy," said Abbott.