Three injured in Alabama church shooting

Oasis Tabernacle Church, where a man injured three in a shooting on Sunday. Facebook

A man opened fire during a church service in Alabama on Sunday, wounding his girlfriend, her baby and a pastor before being arrested on attempted murder charges, a prosecutor said.

The shooting rattled the congregation of Oasis Tabernacle Church in east Selma but was not believed to be racially motivated, said Dallas County District Attorney Michael Jackson.

"This was a domestic violence situation," Jackson said. "It's just a sad situation when people have to be on guard in their church."

In June, a black pastor and eight others were gunned down at a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina, by a white gunman who authorities allege targeted them because of their race.

The pastor in Sunday's shooting is white and the alleged gunman, James Minter, his girlfriend and the infant are black, Jackson said.

The prosecutor said Minter and his girlfriend had been having problems before Minter went into the churchSunday morning and began shooting. The pastor was shot as he intervened and tried to wrestle away Minter's gun, Jackson said.

Jackson said the mother was in critical condition after being shot in the face. He did not know the conditions of the pastor and infant.

Minter was jailed without bail on three counts of attempted murder, Jackson said.

related articles
Charleston murders prompt prayers for Dylann Roof: \'We\'re not a church that hates\'
Charleston murders prompt prayers for Dylann Roof: 'We're not a church that hates'

Charleston murders prompt prayers for Dylann Roof: 'We're not a church that hates'

Meet the pastors who are arming their churches after Charleston shooting
Meet the pastors who are arming their churches after Charleston shooting

Meet the pastors who are arming their churches after Charleston shooting

Denver megachurch pastor: Why we need armed guards in our services
Denver megachurch pastor: Why we need armed guards in our services

Denver megachurch pastor: Why we need armed guards in our services

News
Pope seeks prayers for peace in Christmas Day message
Pope seeks prayers for peace in Christmas Day message

The Pope asked people to pray in particular for the "tormented people of Ukraine" in his Christmas Day 'Urbi et Orbi' message. 

Who was St Stephen and why is he remembered on December 26?
Who was St Stephen and why is he remembered on December 26?

The carol says, “Good King Wenceslas last looked out on the Feast of Stephen.” In many countries, December 26, also known as Boxing Day, is better known as St Stephen’s Day. Stephen was the first Christian martyr. This is the story …

King Charles reflects on pilgrimage, reconciliation and hope in Christmas Day address
King Charles reflects on pilgrimage, reconciliation and hope in Christmas Day address

King Charles III used his Christmas Day speech to reflect on the significance of pilgrimage as he appealed to the nation "to cherish the values of compassion and reconciliation". 

2 Timothy 3:16 is Logos' Bible verse of the year, Matthew was the most studied book
2 Timothy 3:16 is Logos' Bible verse of the year, Matthew was the most studied book

One of the most-studied Bible verses of the year is from 2 Timothy in the New Testament, according to an analysis of millions of Bible study sessions that tracked how believers worldwide are engaging with Scripture.