Church Shooting: Pennsylvania church shooting: Man Shoots, Kills Ex-Wife During Church Service

Note: I friend just emailed me about the church shooting at Juniata Valley Gospel Church. As I hit the Internet to look from the news article I noticed that there was another church shooting in Pennslyvania two week ago. Below is that article.

From: CBS News

COUDERSPORT, Pa. - An elementary school music teacher walked into a church in the middle of Sunday services and fatally shot his ex-wife as she sat in a pew, police said.

Gregory Eldred, 52, is charged with first-degree murder, simple assault, terroristic threats and reckless endangerment after allegedly shooting Darlene Sitler, 53, twice.

The shooting took place at the First United Presbyterian Church, where Sitler served as organist and choir director.

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NEW: LA Church Killing over Graffiti

From: Seattle PI

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The service was in full swing at the storefront church near downtown when a parishioner spotted a woman spraying graffiti on the building. He told her to stop, and she shoved him to the ground. Two other congregants rushed to his aid.

One of them met his death when a gunman stepped out of a waiting car and opened fire, killing the 25-year-old church deacon and wounding another worshipper.

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Texas Pastor Beaten to Death with Electric Guitar

From: EMS1.com

FOREST HILL, Texas — A pastor in suburban Fort Worth was killed Monday by an attacker who rammed a car into a church wall, chased the pastor and beat him with an electric guitar, police said.

Forest Hill police did not say why the unidentified suspect attacked the Rev. Danny Kirk Sr., the founding pastor of Greater Sweethome Missionary Baptist Church.

The suspect, who police subdued by using a Taser, died a short time after being taken into custody.

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Texas Man Killed Pastor At NorthPointe Baptist Church

From: Huffington Post

FORT WORTH, Texas — A man convicted of killing a North Texas pastor caused various problems while jailed after his arrest for the crime – including assaulting jailers – and had been committing offenses since he was a teenager, according to testimony Monday during the punishment phase of his trial.

Steven Lawayne Nelson, 25, is facing the death penalty or life in prison without parole for the suffocation death of the Rev. Clint Dobson at Arlington's NorthPointe Baptist Church in March 2011. Nelson also beat the church secretary before stealing her car and other items.

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Second Victim in Louisville Church Shooting Dies

From: WDRB News

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A University Hospital spokeswoman has confirmed that a second victim in Thursday's Springdale Community Church shooting has died.

Melissa Deaver confirmed that Marvin Fisher passed away this morning.

73-year-old David Merritt also passed away as a result of the shooting. Police say 55-year-old Mahmoud Hindi shot the men at a homeowners association meeting Thursday night.

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1 Killed in Weekend Church Shooting

Pastor's mother killed after gunman opens fire in church

From: Fox News

{A pastor's mother was shot and killed when a gunman opened fire in a Colorado church Sunday, FOX 31 reports.

Yolanda Marant, a representative for The Destiny Center, confirmed to FOX 31 that 65-year-old Josephine Eccles, the mother of the church's pastor Delono Straham, was shot and killed when a unknown gunman entered the church and began shooting.}

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Boy Found Dead in Baptismal at Church

From: IndyStar.com

{Indianapolis police are investigating the death of a 1-year-old boy Wednesday after they were told that he was found submerged in a baptismal pool at a church on Indianapolis' Northwestside.}

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My Thoughts: This is the first time I recall seeing a story like this. It begs the questions... Accident or Not? Regardless, it should encourage us all to think about our baptismals and the safety precautions that are in place around them. Some churches have large baptismals similar to a hot tub or swimming pool, while other denominations simply have a large bowl for a sprinkling. 

If you have a large baptismal...

Do you keep water in your baptismal when not in use?

Is your baptismal open or closed when not in use?

Is there a way to lock the lid of the baptismal?

Is the area monitored by CCTV?

Pastor Who Was Shot in Church Dies

From: TheLedger.com

{LAKELAND | The Rev. Carl Stewart died Thursday at his home, five months after he was shot during a service at the Greater Faith Christian Center Church, officials said Monday...

During a Sunday morning prayer service on Sept. 18, Jeremiah Fogle, 57, of Lakeland, walked into the West Lakeland church and opened fire, deputies said.

Stewart and the church's chief pastor, the Rev. ­William Boss, were wounded. Fogle aimed the handgun at another minister, Derrick Foster, who disarmed him, deputies said.}

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12-year-old Boy Dies From Fight At Church

From: NewsOK by The Oklahoman Replica

{CORDELL — A 12-year-old boy is dead after getting in a fight at a church on Wednesday, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation reported.

Lane B. Madison died after the fight at First Baptist Church of Cordell... Madison had been in an altercation with a 13-year-old boy after a youth service}

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High School Coach Dies In Unsanctioned Church Boxing Match

From: ABC News

{The family of a former University of Tulsa football player is suing the church where 24-year-old George Clinkscale III died during an unsanctioned boxing match. He left behind a 2-year-old daughter and a fiancée, who gave birth to his second child two weeks ago...The family is seeking at least $75,000 in damages from the church and two of the pastors, Bill Scheer and wife Sandra.}
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Security Lesson: Don't have unsanctioned boxing matches at your church....