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CNN Live At Daybreak

Baltimore Priest Shot Over Abuse Allegations

Aired May 15, 2002 - 06:31   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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A candlelight vigil was held in Baltimore last night following the shooting of a priest. Suspect Dontee Stokes had alleged the Reverend Maurice Blackwell sexually abused him nine years ago.

And CNN's Elaine Quijano was covering the priest shooting story in Baltimore, and she has this report for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The shooting happened Monday night outside the Baltimore home of Father Maurice Blackwell. Police say 26-year-old Dontee Stokes had a conversation with Blackwell moments before the shooting.

Stokes turned himself in to police late Monday night and is said to be cooperating with authorities. Investigators say Stokes told them Blackwell sexually abused him in 1993. After her son's arrest, Stokes' mother expressed her anguish.

TAMARA STOKES, ALLEGED SHOOTER'S MOTHER: My heart is gone, because of my son.

QUIJANO: In fact, police now say Stokes made a formal complaint back in 1993. Father Blackwell was then temporarily removed from his parish in West Baltimore, but then was allowed to return to his parish duties after the archdiocese found no credible evidence to back up the allegation.

RAY KEMPISTY, BALTIMORE ARCHDIOCESE: Father Blackwell did receive in-patient mental health treatment in 1993, and that treatment was completed prior to his being restored to his parish in December of 1993.

QUIJANO: Then in 1998, Father Blackwell did admit to engaging in sexual activity with a minor before he became a priest in the 1970s and was placed on a leave of absence. Since his removal from St. Edward's, Blackwell has worked at a drug rehabilitation center in Washington, D.C.

CARDINAL WILLIAM KEELER, ARCHBISHOP OF BALTIMORE: I am appalled that another act of violence has occurred in the city of Baltimore, and that a tragedy touches a person that I have known personally.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: That was CNN's Elaine Quijano reporting from Baltimore.

Also on the subject of this, in an exclusive interview with CNN's Connie Chung, the mother of Dontee Stokes talked about what happened just prior to the shooting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONNIE CHUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): What do you think he wanted from Father Blackwell? Because he went there last night, went to his home.

STOKES: He wanted an apology from him. That's all he wanted. That's what he asked for.

(CROSSTALK)

CHUNG: And do you know what happened when he asked him for an apology?

STOKES: From my hearing, it was that he was brushed off and laughed at that night -- that evening he was brushed off.

CHUNG: Was he concerned about an apology for himself?

STOKES: He was concerned for an apology for himself.

CHUNG: But was there any other reason why he wanted to confront Father Blackwell?

STOKES: None that I know of, just for an apology.

CHUNG: Was he concerned about other children?

STOKES: He was very much concerned about other children. He was in a youth group when he was 13. He was the president of the youth group at St. Edward's, and he remained with St. Edward's up until he was 17 dealing with the church any organizations that he was dealing with kids.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: And that was a portion of Connie Chung's interview that aired on CNN's "NEWSNIGHT WITH AARON BROWN" last night.

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