The pastor of St. Peter’s Missionary Baptist Church in Dayton was shot and killed at the church, according to police at the scene.
Witnesses tell WHIO the shooting happened at the pulpit while the choir was singing Sunday. The victim is identified as William Schooler, 70, of Dayton. The alleged shooter, according to witnesses, is the pastor’s brother. He was taken into custody at the church.
UPDATE @ 3:25 p.m.
The victim Schooler was a beloved community leader.
Schooler had previously served as an interim president on the Dayton Public Schools Board of Education.
Friend and fellow community leader Ronnie Moreland said Schooler was the current president of the Baptist Ministers Union in Dayton.
Moreland and several other community leaders plan to hold a press conference later Sunday.
“He had deep roots in the community,” Moreland said. “He was a beloved leader. It’s hard to put into words what has happened.”
UPDATE @ 3:05 p.m.
The pastor of the church who was shot and killed has been identified as William Schooler, 70, of Dayton, according to the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office.
UPDATE @ 2:17 p.m.
We’re getting various reports from the scene from witnesses saying what they saw happen.
Witnesses said the shooting happened at the pulpit while the choir was singing and the suspect taken into custody is the pastor’s brother.
Other than confirming the fatal shooting of the pastor, police have not yet provided an official statement about the incident and their investigation.
Crime scene tape is up and blocking the public from the church property as police continue to conduct an investigation.
UPDATE @ 1:37 p.m.
Police have confirmed that the pastor at St. Peter’s Missionary Baptist Church has died as result of injuries sustained in a shooting incident at the church.
UPDATE @ 1:30 p.m.
Several Dayton police cruisers are on scene and blocking traffic at Nancy Avenue and Keturah Drive as an investigation into a reported shooting gets underway at the St. Peter’s Missionary Baptist Church.
A man was walked out of the church in handcuffs and put in the back of a police cruiser.
In addition, about 10 members of the church are being interviewed at the scene.
A witness tells our crew on the scene that the alleged shooter walked into the pastor’s office and she heard two gunshots.
EARLIER
Police have responded to the report of a shooting at a church in the 3300 block of Nancy Avenue in Dayton.
Officers and a medic responded shortly before 12:30 p.m.
We hear possibly up to two people may have been shot and a suspect is in custody.
We are headed to the scene and will update this story as more information becomes available.
