Fr. Kenneth Walker on his ordination day in May, 2009
Phoenix police are continuing to hunt for the murderer of a 28-year-old priest who was shot and killed inside the rectory of the Mother of Mercy Mission in Phoenix on Wednesday night.
NBCNews.com is reporting that a Phoenix community is in mourning today after one of their own, Father Kenneth Walker of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, was shot during a robbery attempt at the church rectory. He died in a hospital a short time later.
Father Joseph Terra, 56, pastor of the Mission, was also injured in the attack but survived and is currently listed in critical but stable condition.
In a statement released yesterday morning, the Diocese of Phoenix expressed their shock and sadness over the death of such a promising young priest.
“We are stunned and deeply saddened to learn of the tragic assault perpetrated last night against Fr. Joseph Terra and Fr. Kenneth Walker,” the statement said. “The police are still gathering information and trying to sort through the details of this senseless act of violence.”
Fr. Joseph Terra
Unfortunately, the church had no surveillance cameras, but police are said to be reviewing “strong physical evidence” left at the scene as well as scouring the neighborhood for any information that might lead to the apprehension of a suspect or suspects.
“What we’re lacking right now is concrete suspect information,” Phoenix Police Chief Daniel Garcia said at a news conference Thursday morning.
Officers were summoned to scene around 9:00 p.m. by a 911 dispatcher who received a call reporting a robbery from Father Terra. By the time they arrived, Walker had already been shot and Father Terra, who was badly wounded, was giving the dying priest the last rites. Both men were transported to a nearby hospital where Walker died and Terra remains in critical but stable condition.
Bart Tesoriero, a member of Mater Misericordiae Mission, knows both victims well. A longtime technician with Radio Family Rosary, he most recently recorded a number of programs with Fr. Walker.
“I am really saddened,” Tesoriero told The Catholic Sun. “Fr. Walker was a very pure young man who was devoted to his priesthood. He was a beautiful person.”
Tesoriero had just recorded several rosaries led by Fr. Walker and a number of his teachings on devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Both priests were well known in the area for being stalwart defenders of the unborn and were often seen praying outside abortion clinics.
Fr. Fred Adamson, vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Phoenix, told the Sun that the two priests had been serving at the Mission for four years and thought it was a safe place to live. He described Fr. Terra as being “a pretty strong man — he’s not afraid of anybody — and if anyone came in there and asked him, he would give them the shirt off his back. That’s the type of priest he is — a real servant of God.”
Requiem masses will be offered for Father Walker on Monday, June 16.
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