Lord Have Mercy; a Father's Day shooting at a Catholic Church in Utah

Suspect in Ogden church shooting now in custody, victim shot in head during Mass

 

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OGDEN, Utah — A man was shot in the back of the head during a church service at St. James Catholic Church in Ogden Sunday.
Police arrested 35-year-old Charles Richard Jennings several hours after the shooting after he fled the scene in a stolen vehicle. The shooting occurred just before noon.
The church is located at 495 North Harrison Blvd. The victim was taken to McKay Dee hospital in critical but stable condition, according to a press release from the Ogden Police Department. Police said the victim is related to Jennings by marriage, but they have not released the victim’s name.
There were no other injuries reported.
According to the press release, “This was not a random act of violence. The suspect was specific in the desired target and action.”
Police said Jennings held a man at gunpoint and stole a white 1996 GMC short-bed quad pickup truck with the license plate 584 UTV after the shooting. Jennings took the truck north and later abandoned it on the highway.
He was taken into custody without incident by police Sunday afternoon around 3:40 p.m in Box Elder County. Ogden City police were assisted by Box Elder County Sheriff’s Deputies and Utah Highway Patrol Troopers.
We will have more information as it becomes available.