A shooting occurred at a church in Ripley, Mississippi, which left one man dead on Sunday, Aug. 11, according to multiple reports.
WREG News Channel 3 reported that a shooting happened during the congregation. Daily Journal reported that the shooting occurred at 11:27 a.m., and it involved two people. A church member attacked Constable Keith Bullock during the service according to Scott White, the Ripley Police Chief.
The person shot was Patrick Sanders, the son-in-law of the preacher, Daily Journal reported. According to WREG News, Sanders attacked Bullock during the church service, and Bullock responded by shooting Sanders, killing him. Sanders was pronounced dead by authorities who arrived at the scene. Bullock sustained a few minor, non-fatal injuries requiring treatment at the Tippah County Hospital, according to several residents who witnessed the incident, Daily Journal reported.
The locals have all heard about the shooting and what went on at the church on the morning of Aug. 11. According to the WREG, the residents are all quite fond of Bullock, saying that he was well-respected and a figure numerous people looked up to. WREG reported that he was an official local government member who ran and won the position of the Tippah County constable, unopposed.
In the aftermath of the incident, the residents all came together to support each other. One resident, Anette Brooks, who was at the church service, said the people who live here are very close to each other.
“All of us people that go here is really close, loving people—they’ll make it. There’s a lot of people in Ripley know everyone here, and it’s a loving community,” she said.
The news also amassed numerous comments online, with people leave comments offering their condolences.
Police had not released further details of the case, and are still investigating as to why Sanders attacked Bullock, or how they got into an altercation. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation will be conducting investigations, along with assistance from Tippah County Police Department and the Ripley Police Department, according to the Daily Journal.
Texas Church Shooting
A man is on the run after he allegedly shot and killed his ex-wife in the parking lot at a Texas church northwest of Houston late Thursday, Jan. 17. The man’s daughter was also shot and is in critical condition.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is looking for 62-year-old Arthur Edigin who allegedly opened fire after 7:00 p.m. at the parking lot of Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church in Cypress.
Here’s the scene outside of Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church in Cypress. The parking lot is full of cars, now surrounded by crime scene tape. #khou11 pic.twitter.com/7LdcE1lffu
— Brett Buffington (@BrettKHOU) January 18, 2019
Police said Edigin’s ex-wife was killed, and his 31-year-old daughter was wounded and is in critical condition.
At a press conference late Jan. 17, police said Edigin was driving a white 2008 Suburban, which had a damaged right front quarter panel. They said he had fired five or more shots. Police believe the shooting was triggered by a domestic dispute but cannot confirm.
In a police Twitter post, Edigin is described as being 5 feet, 4 inches tall and about 144 pounds.
According to Express.co.uk, a witness said that around 7:15 p.m., she heard three sounds that may have been gunshots.
“All of a sudden we just see sirens going off everywhere, and there was chaos with helicopters flying around,” she said.
According to WTNH, children were participating in after-school activities at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church when the shooting happened outside.
Shortly after the shooting parents of the children were sent an alert, saying the school was on lockdown, according to local reports.
A woman told KTRK that her husband and three children were on lockdown during the shooting. Pam Ledesma said her husband told her they were in a gym closet praying during the incident.
“It’s just crazy to see that stuff like happens, number one at a church, and I know we live in Houston, but at the same time, I mean, I don’t know what kind of person would do that at a church when people are just trying to pray at night,” Ledesma said. “I’m glad some people are safe, but unfortunately, some families aren’t going to be feeling that same way tonight.”
NTD Writer Mimi Nguyen Ly contributed to this article.
