(Reuters) – Three people were shot, two fatally, inside a church in the U.S. state of Alabama on Thursday night before a suspect was arrested, police said.
The shooting took place at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Vestavia Hills, Captain Shane Ware of the Vestavia Hills Police Department told a news conference.
“A single suspect walked into a small group church meeting and started shooting,” he said.
Vestavia Hills is a town of around 40,000 people about 11 kilometers southeast of Birmingham.
Ware said a suspect, who was not identified, was in custody after the attack. Police did not speak about the motive for the attack.
“This is a traumatic thing that has happened in our community, not just the church,” Reverend Kelley Hudlow told WVTM-TV in an interview. He said no church staff members were injured in the shooting.
The church’s website emphasizes its inclusiveness, stating, “Regardless of your history, economic status, race, gender or orientation, you are invited to participate in all the sacraments of the church and life in our community.”
(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb and Eric Beech)
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