McClatchy Newspapers

McClatchy Newspapers

BELLEVILLE, Ill. —The gunman and the Rev. Fred Winters exchanged words, then four shots were fired, one shredding the Bible in Winters’ hand.

The gunman is a 27-year-old single man from Troy who remained in the hospital Sunday afternoon with self-inflicted stab wounds.

Here is a chronology of events, according to Illinois State Police Director Larry Trent, who spoke during a press conference Sunday afternoon at Illinois State Police district headquarters in Collinsville, Ill.:

Shortly after the service started at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, the gunman in dark clothing walked up to the Rev. Winters, who was standing in the sanctuary.

“The suspect said something to the pastor. And the pastor said something back to him,” Trent said.

Trent said it may be that the shooter and Winters somehow knew each other, but police do not know either the connection or a motive.

Four shots were fired at the pastor. One of them shredded the Bible he was holding.

“It hit the very top of the Bible and exploded the Bible,” Trent said. Church members described the flying paper as looking like confetti.

Church members initially thought it was some kind of skit, he said.

One of the remaining shots struck Winters in the chest, killing him. The two other shots did not hit anyone.

After the fourth shot, the gun malfunctioned. Two church members rushed the gunman. There was a struggle.

The suspect pulled a knife. It is believed that he slashed himself in the throat before stabbing the two church members.

Winters was taken to nearby Anderson Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The gunman underwent surgery Sunday afternoon at St. Louis University Hospital.

The two men who subdued the gunman were both taken to Anderson Hospital, where one underwent surgery and the other was treated and released.