BELLEFONTAINE NEIGHBORS, Mo. — A man walked into a Bellefontaine Neighbors church early Sunday afternoon and fired several shots before leaving in a car, police said.
Bellefontaine police Maj. Warren Williss said surveillance video showed the shooter used a rear door to get inside the outreach center at Grace New Covenant Church near the intersection of Chambers and Bellefontaine roads.
He fired four shots at a man working security at the church. Williss said it appeared the shooter and victim knew each other.
"I can also say the two men are extended family members,” Williss said.
At the time of the shooting, another congregation, Brothers and Sisters in Christ Fellowship Church (BASIC), was holding its service at the outreach center. The congregation has rented the space from the church for the past 18 months.
Pastor Ernest Wood, who leads the BASIC congregation, told those in attendance about the shooting during a service that was also being livestreamed on Facebook.
“We're going to have to pray even right now. I want everyone to just bow your heads we're going to pray right now. We have a word that there's been a shooting in the other building. That there has been a shooting in the other building. Right now everybody, everybody just bow your heads,” he said.
Howard then began praying.
“Father in the name of Jesus! Father in the name of Jesus! In the name of the Lord, we ask God for your grace to cover even now God we look to you to quail the hand of the enemy in the name of the Lord. We pray God that justice will prevail. We pray for the police officers. We pray for all that are going on God in the name of the Lord Jesus. And we bless you for the victory. In Jesus mighty name and we say amen," he said.
Wood then instructed the congregation to leave the church in an orderly fashion.
“If I could get everybody safe, I was oK. That was my main concern. All I could do was remember my active training for active shooters. Our church has been trained for that. I made everybody shut the doors and get down in the back. It was a bad situation , but we turned lemon into lemonade,” Wood said.
Williss said there were roughly 40 people inside the church at the time of the shooting. No one was physically injured.
Police believe the shooter and his family attend the church. After the shooting, he left in a car with his wife and two children.
“I’m very happy that no one was injured, and no one was killed and I’m so grateful to God for that, Our ministry center where they hold their service will be opened on Monday for another church’s summer camp,” said Grace New Covenant Church pastor Tommie Harsley III.
Police did not release any additional information about the incident. Anyone with information was asked to call CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477).