Parishioners' quick action praised in Ala. church shooting

Alvin Benn | Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser

Show Caption Hide Caption Man Charged in Selma Church Shooting A man is charged with three counts of attempted murder, after three people were shot in a church in Selma, Alabama on Sunday. Police say James Junior Minter was apparently upset about a recent breakup and visitation issues with his son. (Sept. 21)

SELMA, Ala. — A man apparently upset over efforts to obtain visitation rights to see his month-old son allegedly shot the infant, the child's mother and the pastor at an east Alabama church Sunday morning, police said.

James Junior Minter, 26, is being held without bond at the Dallas County Jail, said Lt. Curtis Muhannad of the Selma Police Department.

None of those shot at Oasis Tabernacle Church in East Selma suffered life-threatening injuries, but they were treated at hospitals.

Muhannad praised the swift action of parishioners who rushed Minter moments after the first shots were fired.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that if they hadn’t responded as swiftly as they did, what happened this morning could have been deadly,” said Muhannad. “We’ve seen this happen so many times in our country.”

The district attorney agreed with the assessment of the parishioners' actions.

"A whole lot more people could have been shot," said District Attorney Michael Jackson. "They all played a heroic role."

Witnesses told police that Minter, who is unemployed, entered the church with a hand in his pocket and walked toward the front where the infant and his mother were sitting.

Moments later, Muhannad said, Minter pulled out a handgun and began firing.

The woman, 24, fell to the floor, and Minter fired at her, hitting her in the chin area and in the shoulder, Muhannad said. The baby, a 1-month-old boy, was shot once in the hand.

The 61-year-old pastor, Earl Carswell, was shot in the leg as he rushed toward Minter and tried to disarm him.

“They were not married and had been estranged as they argued over custody and visitation rights of the baby,” Muhannad said.

Congregants took matters into their own hands and rushed toward Minter as quickly as he began to fire the gun, said Muhannad.

“They all began tussling with him, including the pastor with (Minter)” said the officer. “Then he broke loose and ran out of the church, leaving his car behind. He was caught less than a mile away on J.L. Chestnut Boulevard.”

Muhannad said Minter, who suffered “bumps and bruises” as members of the congregation jumped on him during the incident, has a criminal record and authorities are checking on his background.

Minter has been charged with three counts of attempted murder and may face other charges, police said.

Contributing: The Associated Press.