Man kills wife, shoots 2 others in New Jersey Parish

Three people were shot, leaving one dead, in what was described as a domestic violence incident at a Syrian Orthodox Church in Northern New Jersey.

WASHINGTON (Catholic Online) - Gunfire interrupted the worship service this morning at St. Thomas Knanaya Church, a Syrian Orthodox parish, in Clifton New Jersey. The 200 worshipers were surprised by a gunman who walked in and opened fire. Three people reportedly were shot, leaving one dead and two in critical condition.

According to NorthJersey.com, the victim was Reshma James, 24, who died this afternoon from a gunshot to the head allegedly fired by her estranged husband. The two in critical condition at St. Joseph's Medical Center are Dennis John and Silvy Perincheril, James was the niece of Perincheril, who served as the church's Sunday school director; she was visiting from California.

Witnesses report that James was in the foyer as the service was finishing when a young man in a hooded sweatshirt, later identified as the woman's estranged husband, came in. Three shots were fired, causing chaos throughout the church. The man fled the scene. According to reports, all three victims were taken to the hospital where James later was pronounced dead.

The shooter remains at large.

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