A 65 year-old Utah man is expected to survive after being shot in the head by his son-in-law while approaching the altar for Communion at St. James the Just Catholic Church in Ogden, Utah.
Charles Richard Jennings, Jr.
The Christian Science Monitor is reporting that James Evans is in critical condition at McDay-Dee Hospital in Ogden after being shot in the head by his son-in-law. Dr. Barbara Kerwin, director of the intensive care unit at the hospital said the bullet just missed Evans’ brain. His wife, Tara, said he “turned his head at just the right time” and avoided what could have been a lethal injury. He is expected to fully recover.
Police say the shooter was Evans’ son-in-law, Charles Richard Jennings, Jr., 35, who is married to Evans daughter, Cheryl. Known as “Ricky” to his family, he and Cheryl have a history of domestic disputes and policy suspect he may have been using drugs or alcohol at the time of the shooting.
According to the pastor of the parish, Father Erik Richtsteig, Jennings had made threats before but he would not elaborate on the details.
There were about 300 people at Mass at the time of the shooting, which took place while the congregation was lining up for Communion. When the shot was fired, parishioners hit the floor and Richsteig ducked behind the altar.
Jennings then fled the building and several parishioners ran after him while others tended to the injured Evans, putting pressure on the wound and keeping his airway clear.
The shooter stole a truck at gunpoint from a nearby house and tried to elude police. He was later caught on foot when the truck ran out of gas. He was booked on suspicion of attempted aggravated criminal homicide, aggravated robbery and possession of a firearm by a restricted user. The Weber County District Attorney is expected to file formal charges today.
No charges have been filed against Evans’ daughter.
Father Richtseig said the parish is offering psychological counseling to those who were in the church at the time of the shooting.
Although Sunday evening Mass had to be called off to allow police to do crime scene work, the Mass was said on schedule the following morning.
Richtseig said he wanted to stick to the usual schedule to keep the focus on the kindness and bravery exhibited inside the church after the shooting — not the shooter.
“I really didn’t want evil to win, so we had Mass at 8:30,” he said.
On his blog, Orthometer, Father Eric posted the following announcement about the shooting:
“Many of you know that there was a shooting at my church this Sunday. I am not going to comment on the events in particular. I do want to say that I am very proud of how the parishioners reacted. They prayed, remained calm, helped the victim, made sure the shooter was away from the church. That was God’s grace at work. Jim, the victim, came through surgery and is going to be OK. That too was God’s grace. The shooter was caught without hurting anyone else. God’s grace. When I think of today, I am not going to think about the act of one evil man. I am going to think about the many acts of goodness, kindness, and bravery of many good people. I feel blessed. ”
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