Terry J. Sedlacek opened fire this morning during service at First Baptist Church killing Pastor Fred Winters

GUNMAN HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS 27-YEAR OLD TERRY J. SEDLACEK. HE WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE MURDER AND AGGRAVATED BATTERY.

Pastor Fred Winters was shot and killed earlier this morning during services at First Baptist Church in Maryville, Illinois.

According to authorities, about 150 horrified parishioners watched an unidentified gunman walked up to the pulpit during 8AM service this morning and opened fire on Pastor Winters.

Police said that the pastor deflected the first bullet with his Bible.

After murdering the pastor, authorities said that the gunman’s .45-caliber pistol jammed and he pulled a knife out of his jacket and turned it on himself.

Authorities said at that point, several parishioners tackled the gunman, causing two men and the gunman to be injured in the scuffle.

Winters, a father of two who had led the First Baptist Church for nearly 22 years, was the former president of the Illinois Baptist State Association and an adjunct professor for Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Authorities have not released the shooter’s name or why he targeted the pastor.