Lake Charles pastor shot to death during church service

[The Stig]

Original story HERE (http://www.kplctv.com/story/23554172/cpso-pastor-shot-killed-during-church-ceremony) at local news affiliate




Lake Charles pastor shot to death during church service

Updated: Sep 29, 2013 6:05 PM CST


LAKE CHARLES, LA (KPLC) -

A pastor was shot and killed during a church service on Friday night in Calcasieu Parish.

According to Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Kim Myers, it happened around 8:20 p.m. at the Tabernacle of Praise Worship Center at 307 Deshotel Lane in Lake Charles.

Myers said Pastor Ronald J. Harris Sr. was shot "as he was preaching."

Woodrow Karey Jr., 53, of Lake Charles, is accused of walking into the church and shooting Harris.

Myers said Harris, of Lake Charles, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Myers said Karey shot Harris with a shotgun twice, once when he walked into the church and a second time when Harris fell to the floor. Myers said Karey walked up to him and shot him at close range.

Karey fled on foot, Myers said, but called the Sheriff's Office and surrendered without incident.

A Calcasieu Correctional Center booking report indicates his location of arrest was Opelousas Street/Deshotel Lane.

Myers said at the time of Karey's arrest, he directed deputies to two guns he had discarded in a wooded area close to the intersection where he was apprehended. Myers said one was a shotgun and the other was a .22 pistol, both of which were recovered.

Karey was booked on a second-degree murder charge. Judge David Ritchie set bond in the case at $1 million.

Myers said Karey has no known criminal history.

Authorities say the motive for the shooting is unknown and the investigation continues.

According to Calcasieu Parish Chief Deputy Stitch Guillory, there were 65 witnesses inside the church at the time of the shooting, including the victim's wife.

"At this point, we're just trying to piece together as much information as we can," said Guillory. "And find out what the cause of this was."

Copyright 2013 KPLC. All rights reserved.

Think you are safe in the house of the lord? Think a SHTF event can't unfold there?

Sorry, but I get really riled up when people start talking about how CCW should be barred inside churches.

[ak474u]

I always carry in church. My in-laws are pastors, they've asked why I carry at church, I told them in case God was busy saving a bus full of orphans from driving off a cliff when some guy comes in shooting.

[Stormfeather]

Hate to say this, but stop and think of what would drive a man to shoot a pastor of a church, the man had no criminal record, and obviously wasnt unstable mentally. It takes an ANGRY man to go into a church and break that taboo, what made this man so angry? He was mentally stable enough to call the police and surrender, and direct them to where he put the weapons so nobody else could get ahold of them. Will be interested to see how this plays out.

[4suchatimeasthis]

Uh, yeah, lots of unconscionable SHTF type stuff can happen in a church. Lots. I can think of all sorts of reasons someone might get angry enough to start shooting. I'm not saying it's right, or excusable, or justified, or the right way to handle things, obviously. But you can be damn sure there was a reason.

[ak474u]

Hate to say this, but stop and think of what would drive a man to shoot a pastor of a church, the man had no criminal record, and obviously wasnt unstable mentally. It takes an ANGRY man to go into a church and break that taboo, what made this man so angry? He was mentally stable enough to call the police and surrender, and direct them to where he put the weapons so nobody else could get ahold of them. Will be interested to see how this plays out.

It's gonna be a personal beef with the guy. Who knows what, but I'd bet they'd had either a disagreement, or somebody had their hand in somebody else's cookie jar. My friend's wife lived across the street from the Wedgwood baptist church back in the 90s when that lunatic went in and killed a bunch of people during Wednesday night services, it could be random, but it doesn't seem like the spree killer mentality was displayed in LA.

[Stormfeather]

It's gonna be a personal beef with the guy. Who knows what, but I'd bet they'd had either a disagreement, or somebody had their hand in somebody else's cookie jar. My friend's wife lived across the street from the Wedgwood baptist church back in the 90s when that lunatic went in and killed a bunch of people during Wednesday night services, it could be random, but it doesn't seem like the spree killer mentality was displayed in LA.

My thought exactly, most folks of a religious mindset dont go out of their way to screw over someone in the congregation, its just bad form, and people of the church have long memories, and dont mind holding grudges because they can usually catch the forgiveness train every week, so that kind of narrows it down. Hate to say Im thinking this way, but wouldnt be the first time Ive seen this happen.