A gunman has attacked an Illinois church packed with some 150 people, killing a pastor during service, the Maryville Police Department says.
The incident took place on Sunday morning in front of the perplexed parishioners in the First Baptist Church in Maryville, about 30 km (20 miles) northeast of St. Louis, Illinois.
The suicidal attacker walked up one of the aisles at the church and exchanged words with Pastor Fred Winters, who walked over towards him. The suspect then pulled out a .45-caliber pistol and fired one shot, Illinois State police spokesman Ralph Timmens said.
The gunman then pulled out a knife began stabbing himself when the gun jammed, police said.
"Some parishioners tackled him and held him on the floor," Timmens said, AFP reported.
"Two subjects received knife injuries during the restriction of the subject and were treated at hospital."
According to police, there were approximately 150 people in the church at the time of the incident.
Two of those who went after the attacker suffered non-life-threatening injuries, while the suspect's injuries are "very serious," Timmens said.
The Illinois shooting is believed to be the nation's first in a church since July, when a 58-year-old man opened fire in a Knoxville, Tennessee. Two people were killed and six others were wounded in the shooting at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church.
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