45 year old Fred Winters, a Southern Baptist minister was shot and killed at his church in front of about 150 church members at the 8:15 am service today. He leaves behind a wife and two daughters. Winters had been minister of First Baptist Church Maryville Ill. since 1989 and was the former president of the SBC Illinois Baptist State Association Winters had attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and was an adjunct professor at Midwestern Baptist Theology Seminary in Kansas City. The 27 year old man was not recognized by people in the church.
The gunman has not been identified, walked down the aisle of First Baptist Church in Maryville, Illinois, where 150 people were attending an 8am service, and shot pastor Fred Winters in the chest.
The man exchanged words with Mr Winters before pulling out a .45-caliber handgun and shooting once, fatally wounding the pastor, police said.
When his gun then jammed, the attacker pulled out a knife and stabbed himself repeatedly, witnesses said.
Hundreds attended a meeting to remember Rev. Winters tonight.
During Sunday evening’s prayer service, First Baptist pastor Mark Jones did not mention the gunman, whose name hasn’t been released, but described the attack as from “the forces of hell.”
Update: The 27 year old who shot Rev. Fred Winters and tried to kill himself while wounding two church members has been identified as Terry Joe Sedlacek, who had been featured in a story in the St. Louis Dispatch in August. He was misdiagnosed for years until doctors discovered Lyme disease and ehrlichiosis, caused by a deer tick bite. Sedlacek did not get diagnosed in time to respond to treatment.
I am so sorry for you all, our prayers are with all of you. I myself have been misdiagnosed for years infected with lyme disease..I can only tell you it’s a horrible disease and does effect our minds as well as our bodies. Again I’m so sorry….