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CNN Live Today

Police Surround Home Near Catholic Church Where Two People Were Killed

Aired March 12, 2002 - 13:11   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: At this hour, there is a standoff in Lynbrook, New York. Police have surrounded a home near a Catholic church where two people were killed this morning. Witnesses say a gunman shot and killed a pastor and a parishioner during morning mass before fleeing then into the neighborhood.

Michael Okwu has made his way to the scene and joins us live there with the latest.

Michael, good afternoon.

Two dead is the word I have, is that right? One being the priest?

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's exactly right, Bill.

Police say that a man described as white, in his early 30s, literally just walked into the church just behind me this morning, walked into the church and opened fire with a rifle, and as you put it, killed a female parishioner and a priest. And again, all this happened just 10 minutes into this morning's 9:00 mass.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

INSPECTOR PETE MATUZA, NASSAU COUNTY POLICE: He enters the rear of the church. He's armed with a rifle. He fired a number of shots, not sure how many shots he fired, one struck a female parishioner. One struck the priest. Both people have been pronounced. After he fired the shots, he ran out of the church.

He was pursued at that time by a male parishioner and an off-duty Lynbrook police lieutenant. Somewhere on Fowler, which runs next to the church, apparently, there was some sort of struggle with this individual. The gun was wrested from him. The individual broke free. He ran into a house on Fowler about a block and a half from the church.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

OKWU: Now police now have the weapon he was carrying, described only, again, as a rifle. But the suspect they believe has taken cover inside the house, just about 40-50 yards from their church. We understand from police that he has been living in that house for the past 2-3 months. We also understand that this is a house that probably rents out rooms to others. Police tell us that three people fled the house, under the guidance of members from Nassau County's Bureau of Special Operations. There's no indications at this point that others are in the house. Police say that do not know whether he is armed. They have not made any contact with this man at this point.

And, again, over my shoulder, you can see there has been a media crush here, and there is also a crush of some very concerned residents as well as some parents, connected to this church, which was called "Our Lady of Peace," a school that has kids from prekindergarten to sixth grade, and we do not know how many kids are in that school, but we do know that the police are saying they will not let any of those children out of the school until this man is apprehended.

And one word about this priest, his name is father Larry Panses (ph), a churchgoers, says here that he was a very wonderful man, a kind priest, that actually served some time as a chaplain at the fire department, and also in the Air Force, where he had done some time in Turkey and Iran.

And they say that it is irony, if not just an outright tragedy, that his life ended here in what is supposed to be a very safe residential area in Long Island -- Bill.

HEMMER: Michael, quickly here, is there any evidence from police that would hook the suspected gunman, as parishioners, or people who knew the priest or other people inside the church or school?

OKWU: There's no indication at this point from the appropriate authorities here. There's been a lot of speculation, which I don't really want to get into about what this -- what was sort of the mental state of this man, and whether or not he might have been angry with the church for any reason. That remains unclear at this point. But as soon as we can get some of those things confirmed, we will let you know.

HEMMER: OK, Michael, thanks. Don't want to go anywhere we're not sure of yet. Thank you, Michael Okwu, reporting live there in Long Island, New York.

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