Priests attacked at Phoenix church, one dies

PHOENIX (AP) — One priest was shot and killed and another was wounded in an attack at a Catholic church in downtown Phoenix, police said.

Sgt. Steve Martos said police received a call about a burglary at the Mother of Mercy Mission near the state Capitol shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday. Responding officers found two priests badly injured.

According to Martos, one of the priests had been shot and died at the hospital. The other priest is hospitalized in critical condition with unspecified injuries, he said. According to Martos, the injured 56-year-old priest was able to call 911 and direct authorities to the church.

The attack occurred in the rectory. Investigators are still trying to determine if robbery was a motive, Martos said. Police are also unsure how many attackers were involved. They planned to discuss the attack at a news conference at 11 a.m. local time.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix today identified the slain priest as the Rev. Kenneth Walker and the injured priest as the Rev. Joseph Terra.