By BRIAN SKOLOFF and EMAUN KASHFI
Marsha Livingston, right, comforts a grieving Kristen Williams, both parishioners at Mother of Mercy church, as they stand outside the church on Thursday, June 12, 2014, in Phoenix, after a Wednesday evening attack left a priest shot and killed and another injured at the Roman Catholic church. Police have no suspects at this point, but they are canvassing the neighborhood and going over physical evidence from the scene. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
PNI 0612 Dead Priest
Mater Misericordiae (Mother of Mercy) Mission, church members, from left, Kirsten Duarte, her mother Theresa Duarte, and Mary Langlois, cry while listening to Phoenix Police during a news conference on Wednesday, June 11, 2014. Police say one priest was shot to death and another is injured after an attack at the church in downtown Phoenix. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix on Thursday identified the slain priest as the Rev. Kenneth Walker and the injured priest as the Rev. Joseph Terra. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Nick Oza) MARICOPA COUNTY OUT; MAGS OUT; NO SALES
PNI 0612 Dead Priest
Phoenix Police investigate a shooting at Mater Misericordiae (Mother of Mercy) Mission on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 in Phoenix. Police say one priest was shot to death and another is injured after an attack at the church in downtown Phoenix. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix on Thursday identified the slain priest as the Rev. Kenneth Walker and the injured priest as the Rev. Joseph Terra. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Nick Oza) MARICOPA COUNTY OUT; MAGS OUT; NO SALES
Priests Attacked
Mater Misericordiae (Mother of Mercy) Mission, church members Theresa Duarte, in center, and Kirsten Duarte, right, pray while Phoenix Police investigate a shooting at the church on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 in Phoenix. Police say one priest was shot to death and another is injured after an attack at the church in downtown Phoenix. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix on Thursday identified the slain priest as the Rev. Kenneth Walker and the injured priest as the Rev. Joseph Terra. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Nick Oza) MARICOPA COUNTY OUT; MAGS OUT; NO SALES
PNI 0612 Dead Priest
Mater Misericordiae (Mother of Mercy) Mission, church member, Kirsten Duarte, center, prays while Phoenix Police investigate a shooting at the church on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 in Phoenix. Police say one priest was shot to death and another is injured after an attack at the church in downtown Phoenix. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix on Thursday identified the slain priest as the Rev. Kenneth Walker and the injured priest as the Rev. Joseph Terra. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Nick Oza) MARICOPA COUNTY OUT; MAGS OUT; NO SALES
Priests Attacked
Mater Misericordiae (Mother of Mercy) Mission, church members, from left, Mary Langlois, Theresa Duarte, and Kirsten Duarte, prey as Phoenix Police investigate a shooting at the church on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 in Phoenix. Police say one priest was shot to death and another is injured after an attack at the church in downtown Phoenix. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix on Thursday identified the slain priest as the Rev. Kenneth Walker and the injured priest as the Rev. Joseph Terra. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Nick Oza) MARICOPA COUNTY OUT; MAGS OUT; NO SALES
Priests Attacked
Phoenix police were still on the scene after a Wednesday evening attack left a priest shot and killed and another injured at the Roman Catholic church the Mother of Mercy Mission on Thursday, June 12, 2014, in Phoenix. Police have no suspects at this point, but they are canvassing the neighborhood and going over physical evidence from the scene. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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PHOENIX (AP) — A priest was shot and killed and another was injured at a Roman Catholic church in downtown Phoenix, setting off an intense search for suspects and clues.
The surviving priest called 911 to report a burglary at the Mother of Mercy Mission near the state Capitol around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday and administered last rites to the wounded clergyman while waiting for police to arrive. The Rev. Kenneth Walker died at the hospital, and the Rev. Joseph Terra, 56, is hospitalized in critical condition with unspecified injuries.
Police have no suspects at this point. They are searching the neighborhood, interviewing the injured priest and examining physical evidence from the scene. Investigators said they are unsure how many attackers were involved and if robbery was the motive.
Police Chief Daniel Garcia called it a “tragic and appalling criminal violation.”
As police investigated the crime scene at the church, about a dozen parishioners gathered across the street, kneeling on the sidewalk and saying the Lord’s Prayer in response to the loss of their beloved clergyman. A bouquet of flowers and a photograph of the dead priest lay on the sidewalk.
Parishioner Diane sobbed as she spoke of Walker and Terra and the “senseless acts of cruelty” that were carried out.
“They will be truly missed in this parish. Very peaceful people, very peaceful men, loving, kind and charitable,” Harmon said.
“They are truly concerned about the sanctity of souls, and saving souls,” she added. “It’s hard to imagine, but that’s unfortunately the society we’re living in, a godless society. It’s lawless.”
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton said the city was shocked and saddened as police pleaded for the public’s help in identifying the suspects.
“The tragedy that occurred last night at the Mother of Mercy Mission church strikes at our core because every American should feel safe in a house of worship — and that basic value was violated last night in an unspeakable way,” Stanton said.
Terra and Walker, 28, served as pastor and assistant pastor, respectively, and they both lived in the church, which is located along a gritty stretch of downtown Phoenix. The Rev. Fred Adamson, vicar general of the Phoenix Archdiocese, said both men believed the church “was a safe place to live.”
“Father Terra is a pretty strong man. He’s not afraid of anybody,” Adamson said.
They both belonged to the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, and one of its hallmarks is leading Mass in Latin for worshippers.
Police found an abandoned car they were seeking in connection with the attack about four blocks from the church, Sgt. Steve Martos said.
Rorate Caeli, an online blog widely read in Vatican circles, said Walker was born in upstate New York near Poughkeepsie. He was the middle child among a family of 11 children. He was ordained in May 2012.
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Associated Press writer Terry Tang contributed to this report.
