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Subscribe to RSSA man and a woman were killed and another woman seriously injured in a possible double-shooting and suicide at a church in Maryland late on Thursday.
A custodian at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Ellicott City, Md., found two women in the church office who appeared to have been shot, police said.
One woman was pronounced dead at the scene, the other was taken to hospital in a critical condition.
Police found a man dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in the nearby woods, police said. A gun was found near the body.
Read the original report at NBC Washington
The women's and man's identities have not been confirmed.
The Baltimore Sun reported that police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn said it was too early in the investigation to speculate about a connection between the women and the man.
It quoted Steve Fairall, who lives on Main Street in Ellicott City, saying he often rides his bike in the neighborhood around the church.
"It's pretty upper-middle-class. It's a nice neighborhood, a lot of families," he reportedly said.
When he heard about the shootings, he "just thought it was somebody targeted. I didn't think it was any crazy gunmen running around,” the newspaper said.
Msnbc.com's Alastair Jamieson contributed to this report.
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Condolences to the family and friends of those who died. The chicken sh!t in the woods should have started his killing spree with himself. And let the anti gun comments begin!
Really, is that what you come up with. Condolences, quickly followed by some talking point?!?!? This is a great tradgedy. Even the man who killed himself has harmed his family. They will mourn and be ashamed.
They just want to be sure everyone knows it isn't the gun, 13,000 times annually.
I can harldy wait for all the requests for prayers and other hand-mumbling nonsense -- asking the jesus-myth to come and help these people AFTER the fact (once again). He never seems to show up to one of his churches to help before BEFORE his "followers" get gunned down.
Let the chanting and hand-mumbling begin!
Every day, God shows up. You just refuse to see him.
The update is that the man who committed this shooting/murder was a homeless man who regularly visited the food pantry there. He had recently become beligerant and argumentative. Probably a case of mental illness. So, awfully tragic.
Even the homeless and mentally ill seem to have little trouble getting hold of guns these days. Nearly every gun used in a crime in this country was once legally purchased. How they trickle down to criminals and those who have no business with such a weapon is the real question. One that nobody on the Right is the least bit interested in solving (see the ludicrous so-called Fast and Furious "Scandal") .
Crazy rightwingers at work again. When will something be done about all of the psychotic rightwingers in this country? I mean holy crap, Jared Laughners spree shooting wasn't that long ago. We just recently had a Neo-Nazi spreeshooter, and now we have this going on. Seriously, use the NDAA to detain all the rightwingers in this country and send them off to Guantanamo Bay before more people get killed in spree shootings.
And before anyone says "Oh you can't generalise all conservatives like that!"...yeah I can because being insane and stupid are the only qualifications to being a conservative.
As I recall Jared Laughner was a Democrat.
Nice try Navy... No Laughner was not. I'm sure your right-wing blogs told you that. LOL.... Repeating a lie does not make it true. But Laughner wasn't a Republican either. He wasn't even enrolled to vote.
This isn't a story....it's a vague, incomplete outline of an event. Why is this a recommended page? Whatever happened to journalism?
MSN should raise its standards as to what constitutes a worthy article.
Agreed, condolences to the family and friends of those lost. But things like this raise a question for me. That being if this is Gods house where is he when things like this happen, out to lunch? Also agree shame this guy didn't start with himself.
God was there. Bad things happen because we let them happen. God gave us freewill. We screw it up. We make life heaven or hell for each other.
Read the bible and you will know. If you dont want to learn or understand then you are a lost soul.
Aren't we all lost souls.... We are only found by the grace of God.
God neve said this is His house people have. And God does not live in houses. Like In the middle said, read the Bible and you will know.
Sorry, but those are only unprovable, mythical cult claims. You've never been able to prove your god exists, or ANY god(s) exist for that matter...
Correct, you will know what an unprovable, mythical cult book has on its pages. But that's all you'll know. None of the cults, including the BuyBull cults, have ever provided one shred of evidence that their claims were substantial, correct or provable. So, get over yourselves. Suggesting any of it is "knowable" or factual is silly and utter nonsense.
DMorgan...I agree with you 100%..but why do you keep saying the same thing week after week? It's not like you are going to change anyone..it's called faith for a reason...let people believe what they want and I'll keep believing in my "Big Blue Bunny in the Sky" that will eventually save my soul.
DMorgan, what proof do you have that love exists? Or pain? Or joy? Or sorrow? Like faith, each of these things is something that's only "real" to those who've experienced it. My faith in God is not rooted in what I've read or been taught - it's based on what I've experienced in my lifetime, both with and without God. That's proof enough for me. And nothing you say or do will change that. But if you want to try, what proof do you have that God does not exist?
And DMorgan, you can't prove God does not exist. You don't live my life. I have had experiences that you could not explain. The logical progress of atheism is nihilism. Sorry, but I prefer my existance to have meaning.
Any thinking person, who watches TV, might reason that drugs are involved.
The drug ads tell us if take them we will have thoughts of suicide. The ads fail to tell us we will take others with us.
This is going on all over the country, and yet folks won't admit, it may be the fault of the American drug cartels.
All mind altering drugs, (legal or illegal), can KILL.
Aspirin can kill, too, if it isn't used appropriately!
Everything is caused by drugs, eh, Tumbleweed? Newsflash...some things happen without drugs being involved. Something tellsme that you may have had a substance abuse problem in the past..."Dry Drunk" syndrome.
My heart goes out to the family and friends of those killed and injured in this latest tragedy. I don't understand what is going on these days. People are going crazy.
I agree with you to a degree Arizona. I see those "wonder drug" ads on TV all the time, that will help with this or that, and then they spend 30seconds telling you about all the side affects of taking such drugs.
People need to educate themselves, not only about the chemicals we put in our bodies, but also about the more natural homeopathic alternatives that are available. We complain about the price of health care, the price of medications, but we do nothing about seeking out alternatives.
The information is out there. If more people seek out those cheaper Non-chemical medications the drug companies will be forced to lower their prices. With the price of prescriptions reduced, health-care costs would come down.
AZ, will you send me a dollar everytime you post about drugs??
WilliamofRites: If he did that you could probably retire.
That conclusion is supported by any facts. In this case, the mind-altering that was probably going on was religion -- which can screw-up anyone beyond repair. And usually does.
DMorgan, where did your bitterness and intolerance come from? I will pray for you.
DMorgan: I agree with you.
Any time another human is killed, which includes suicide, it is a tragedy and condolences are appropriate, but we should care about this because..?
Loneliness, anger and fear are the greatest killers in the world. It is so absolutely tragic that these murders and suicide happened in a place that is trying to alieviate loneliness, anger and fear. My prayers are with the family and friends of the dead and special prayers for the priest injured (Episcopal ministers are called priests). Yes, including the man who did the shooting. His family and friends have been harmed by his act. I hope that they can find comfort too.
This was all part of gods plan, god wanted that man to kill those two women then to kill himself so that he would spend an eternity in hell for his misdeeds. The article doesn't go into much detail about the women so can't speculate on where they will spend eternity.
You shouldn't speculate on any of the above.... just saying!
Chris... So, you don't believe in free will? You believe in pre-ordination? How very Calvanistic of you.
As for where they will spend eternity, Episcopalians don't claim to know for sure, but we lean toward universal salvation.
God had nothing to do with this. If you believe in one you have to believe in the other.
There's nothing wrong with choosing NOT to believe in a silly, unprovable, mythical, bronze-age cult.
Cheers!
to DMorgan - correct ! God gives us all free choice - He will never force anyone to believe or accept His unconditional love.
It is just a sad thing that all you have is this sick corrupt world and you are missing out on so-o-o much more !!!!
Lord our God, You are always faithful and quick to show mercy. your servants was suddenly taken from us. Come swiftly to their aid, have mercy on them, and comfort their family and friends by the power and protection of the cross. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
This request for God to do something for you contradicts the idea of God having a plan, and if you think that God helps his followers and grants mercy then what you are saying would be redundant anyway and serves as a distraction from any real conversation people are trying to have.
A cross has no power or protection, the particular one you are talking about is a bronze-age middle-eastern torture/execution device. If it actually had protective powers you could bet militaries across the world would be equipping all their soldiers with crosses.
Asking "through Christ our Lord" means that you are asking God through God, which is of course senseless.
I hope you understand all the problems I have with what you have posted here.
I could careless about the problem you have with my posting... just saying.
And, many of us could Care Less about your silly, childish, selfish need to climb onto the shoulders of a tragedy like this one, and use it to preach your cult gibberish to people. It's only a matter of time before the whack-jobs show up to an article like this one, climb onto its shoudlers, and start chanting, preaching "jeebus jeebus jeebus" and call for widescale hand-mumbling. Always asking for their jesus-myth to do something for the families AFTER the tragedy has hit, since the mythical jesus-creature never seems to protect them (even in a church!) BEFORE they get gunned down.
just sayin...
A domestic dispute or attempted robbery come to mind as a possible motive. Regardless, two people are dead and one critically injured. The fact that this Ellicott City church is in an upper middle class neighborhood really has nothing to do with anything. Crime happens everywhere and can happen to anyone. I just wish people would give things more thought before ending lives because in the long run, self-defense excluded, there's nothing worth killing over.
Indeed. Money does not keep you safe. It gives you the illusion of safety. We can all die in a matter of seconds. It is better to live your life in a way that you feel that will be remembered well and, if you believe in God, in a way that you can feel that you have honored his wishes.
Apparently, neither does belief in your mythical jesus-creature. they were even in a jesus-church, and still got killed!
just like christianity gives you the illusion of safety. wow! who'd have guessed that BuyBull cultism and money are basically the same thing!!
I'm glad it makes you feel better to lambaste our religion. Oh and our society and the modern world
to pained1 - don't worry about DMorgan above - instead pray for him !
Jesus said to pray for your enemies. I actually am thankful to people like DMorgan - here's why -
Jesus said that you will be hated because of Me - but he also said that if anyone curse and hates you because of Me, be glad, for your reward in heaven is great !
Besides, what can they do to us that was not done to Jesus before He died ??
I always laugh at atheists - they mock the Bible, while so many times they unknowingly fulfuill its prophesies just by being themselves !
Exactly, because so many sane and rational perpetrators of a murder-suicide are running around.
to Willie- of - Wrongs - remember me ?? YOU are the one who wants to change the 2nd Amendment yet call me delusional and paranoid.
There would be no need for the NRA if nut-cases like you stopped your worn out old chant and left the 2nd Amendment alone.
I would much rather give my money to charity than to the NRA, but and idiot politicians who think like you do have to be stopped !!
Liberal fools like you live in a pipe dream world, the naieve' illusion of a utopia - and you want to force your illusionary world on the rest of us - that is why people like you are so dangerous !
I, on the other hand, am a realist - I will keep my guns and donate generously to the one organization that protects my guaranteed rights in the REAL world - the NRA !
Got it, Willie ???
Let me stir the pot here a little. Reading some of these postings I have to comment that each persons opinion is just as important to them as is yours to you. Try if you disagree to be a liitle bit more dignified and respectable in your response. Being obnoxious in your response just belittles you not them. This type of loss of life is always sad and my condolences go out to the families of those lost.
If I disagree with someone and cannot say anything intelligent in response I will just keep it to myself rather than make myself an *ss for the whole world to see.
Well said, 'Retired'. Sadly, opinions are too often stated as insults, an belittlings of other people's. I didn't agree with what you said about God being 'out to lunch', but it wasn't insulting to me, it was just a difference of opinion. I can respect that. Then again, when an inmate is killed in a prison, do we blame the guard that was on duty down the hall, or their fellow inmate for killing them? We live in a world of freedom of choice. No matter whether you're religious or not. Killing happens even though there are laws to prevent it. Our society is about choices, and eventual punishment.
Sadly 'DMorgan' is ranting on about his various insults to the Bible, the Church, and believers, and calling it all a myth. Even more interesting is the accusation of using this article as an opportunity to spew forth Christian rants, but yet he seems to be doing the same thing AGAINST Christians.
I believe it's possible to respect each other, even when disagreeing, and using forums like this to belittle and hurt each other is not only shameful, but embarrassing. I'm a Christian, I believe what I believe, whether I'm called a 'whack-job for it or not.
Thank you to those who weren't ashamed, or minimized by 'DMorgan' and can voice prayers because they felt they needed to, and to those who voice differing options with respect.
Cheers.
to Michael-214473 - see my reply post to pained1 above. God bless !
This kind of story is tragic and all too common.I like howSchoolyard got bashed for cock blocking the anti gun sentiment.....As far as opinions go,I like my sentiment.......Opinions are like A*******,everyone elses stinks.
to pained1 - people who want to kill usually go to where THEY think people are helpless and defenseless - people in churches are good targets - what person in church would shoot back ???
ME !!!!
I agree,people won't pull crap if they think it is a victim free zone.
Well, seems we're starting to have these mass shootings every few days now -- the ink is barely dry on the stories about the whacko in Gilbert, AZ who took out a whole family & himself on Wednesday.
But I know, "guns don't kill," blah, blah, blah.
to Eugene - drunks kill people - others and themselves - while driving in their cars every day !
A gun is exactly like a car - both are safe if handled properly and safely - nothing can happen until
a person uses them. Should cars be banned because they are involved with so many deaths and
injuries - take cars away from everyone so that we all can feel safe ???
I don't agree with gun control, but the arguments need to be sensible. Cars aren't designed exclusively to kill. Although it appears god is!
From what I understand, the two women were the parish secretary (killed), an associate rector (in very critical condition, not expected to survive), and the man was the killer. I got this information from my old parish secretary in Maryland. I now live in Texas.
@ voxrationis ** So......if a homeless guy finds a car in a parking lot, some ones driveway etc, and steals it. Then drives around and runs over, say 20 or so 6 year old kids at some church school crossing on their way to prayer. It's the cars fault right? Don't say it isn't the same, it is. A human and an instument capable of killing. #1) the murder object is inanimate and doesn't do anything on it's on. It needs a human to activate it. #2) the *man* had no right driving it. But how did he get it? Same senario as above...
mo nig: I agree with you. Voxrationis' reasoning is flawed. O know it's become a tired cliche, but - with a slighr update and edit - "guns alone don't kill people; it's guns in peoples' hands, with those same peoples' fingers on the trigger, that kill people."