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UPDATE #5: The name of the apparent shooter, who was found dead in a wooded area near the church, was released this afternoon.

The latest from the Baltimore Sun:

Howard County police have identified a man, found dead in the woods, who they say shot two women, one fatally, Thursday night at an Ellicott City church where both of the victims worked.
Douglas Franklin Jones, 56, was found dead in a wooded area Thursday with what police say was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police also found a handgun at a camp site where investigators believe he had been living.

UPDATE #4: Statement from the Diocese of Maryland:

Tragedy at St. Peter's Church, Ellicott City
May 4, 2012

Baltimore -- The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland is saddened beyond words by the shootings May 3 at St. Peter's Church in Ellicott City, Maryland. The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton, bishop of Maryland, immediately offered prayers for the victims in the chapel of the Cathedral of the Incarnation, Baltimore, when he learned the news later that evening. Clergy of the diocesan staff have been present with the parish and members of the St. Peter’s staff, and have said prayers over the victims. The diocese holds the victims, their families, and the people and staff of St. Peter's Church and pre-school in its continued prayers. A nearby Episcopal church, St. John's Parish in Ellicott City, opened their doors late Thursday evening to offer a place of support and prayer.

Howard County police are investigating the shooting. According to them, two women, Brenda Brewington, administrative assistant, and the Rev. Mary-Marguerite Kohn, co-rector of the parish were found shot inside the church office yesterday just after 5 pm. A custodian called 911.

Brewington was pronounced dead at the scene. Kohn was transported to Shock Trauma in critical condition.

The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland is a Christian community of 22,000 households in 112 congregations covering 10 counties and Baltimore City. Please visit www.episcopalmaryland.org for more information. The Episcopal Church is a community of 2.4 million members in 100 nationwide dioceses, 10 overseas dioceses and six extra-provincial territories; www.episcopalchurch.org. The Anglican Communion is a global community of 77 million Anglicans in 38 member churches/provinces, including The Episcopal Church; www.anglicancommunion.org.

Please contact Sharon Tillman, stillman@episcopalmaryland.org, 410-467-1399 (office), 410-746-5251 (mobile) with any questions.

UPDATE #3: Further news report.

UPDATE #2: Diana Butler Bass is reporting that Brenda Brewington has died and Mary-Marguerite Kohn is in critical condition. The man who allegedly shot them has also died. The%20Rev.%20Mary-Marguerite%20Kohn.jpg

UPDATE: From St Peter's Facebook page:

Please pray for us and for the victims of the shooting, Brenda and Mary-Marguerite.

The Rev. Dr. Mary-Marguerite Kohn is the priest at St. Peters. Brenda Brewington is the Administrative Assistant.

The Baltimore Sun is reporting a shooting at St Peter's Episcopal Church in Ellicott City, MD that has left one woman dead and another critically wounded. A man was also discovered fatally wounded nearby.

A woman was found shot dead Thursday in St. Peter's Episcopal Church, a man was discovered dead on the grounds nearby and another woman was critically injured by gunfire — turning a quiet, family neighborhood near historic downtown Ellicott City into a crime scene.

Police and SWAT team members swarmed the 3600 block of Rogers Avenue, just up the hill from the historic mill town's Main Street, and blocked off a section of the road following a call at about 5:20 p.m. from a custodian at the church, who said he'd found two women with gunshot wounds in a church office.

Inside the church, police found one of the women dead. The other woman, who was in critical condition, was taken to University of Maryland Shock Trauma, police said.

Comments (18)

None of the articles I've read have any quotes from any parish spokesman, which seems strange to me, not was there any statement on their web page last time I looked.

Posted by Bill Dilworth | May 3, 2012 10:43 PM

what in the world? What a tragedy.

Posted by Claire Carter | May 3, 2012 11:40 PM

There is a brief comment, and a request for prayer, on their Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Peters-Episcopal-Church-at-Ellicott-Mills/101580759899263

Posted by Jane Ellen | May 4, 2012 1:04 AM

In their defense, Diocesan Convention began last night. Anyone who might serve as a parish spokesperson would likely be out of town at convention.

Posted by Scott Cooper | May 4, 2012 8:41 AM

It was just announced at convention that Mary-Marguerite+ is on life support; please keep her, her loved ones, and our diocese in your prayers.

Posted by Derek Olsen | May 4, 2012 9:42 AM

I have just read more about Mary-Marguerite. It seems that St. Peter's was in financial difficulty a while ago. Rather than let Mary-Marguerite, the associate go, the rector, Kirk Kobicek, decided to go half-time and share the other half with Mary-Marguerite as co-rector. A real tribute to the love she engenders.

Posted by Pamela Shier | May 4, 2012 10:08 AM

Derek and anyone else at Convention: please keep us up to date on this. Mary-Marguerite+ is a friend, and my heart is just breaking.
- Anne LeVeque

Posted by maleveque | May 4, 2012 11:11 AM

We remembered Mary-Marguerite+ and Brenda by name at this morning's Mass, and I included the unidentified man in the woods in my unspoken intention.

Scott, thanks for that information. It's not that I thought the parish was at fault for not issuing a statement; rather, I found it worrying.

Posted by Bill Dilworth | May 4, 2012 11:52 AM

@Bill D - as my own parish administrator noted to me, the silence on the site could mean that Ms. Brewington was the person who knew how to update the website (which is pretty much the case here). My heart hurts for the parish and the community. At least Mary-Marguerite is in the best hands possible -- God's and the UMMC Shock Trauma Center.

Posted by Julie | May 4, 2012 12:10 PM

The diocese has posted something now.
http://www.ang-md.org/

Posted by Ann Fontaine | May 4, 2012 12:12 PM

The meeting of the Synod of Province II, meeting in Albany, New York, has just paused to pray for the victims and the Church family of Saint Peter's Ellicot City.

Posted by Michael Hartney | May 4, 2012 1:08 PM

The Baltimore Sun has an article which purports to identify the shooter, but still very little additional information otherwise:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/breaking/bs-md-ho-church-killing-follow-20120504,0,3357387.story

The picture with the article is not a little heartbreaking: an Easter Alleluia is clearly visible on the parish's sign.

Posted by Juli Mallett | May 4, 2012 2:10 PM

According to WTOP and other media, the shooter was a homeless person who had frequented the church's food pantry. A good reminder of the importance of safety/church security, even while serving the less fortunate.

Eric Bonetti

Posted by E B | May 4, 2012 4:39 PM

Convention has just been informed of Mary-Marguerite's death.

May light perpetual shine upon her.

Posted by Derek Olsen | May 4, 2012 4:46 PM

May she rest in peace and rise in glory.
I am in Ellicott City now, about to go to St.Peter's, for prayer and gathering to remember her.

Posted by maleveque | May 4, 2012 5:10 PM

May she rest in peace and rise in glory.
I am in Ellicott City now, about to go to St.Peter's, for prayer and gathering to remember her.
Anne LeVeque

My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Brenda and Mary- Marguerite, such a horrible tragedy. My sympathy to St. Peter's, and all who knew and love the victims.

One of the comments I noticed posted here spoke of the importance of safety and church security when doing ministry. As a parish administrator, who often is alone in the building (as is our church secretary at times) we often have homeless men coming in for Shelter issues since the church secretary is also the manager of the Walw. County Emergency Shelter for Men, and other people coming in for help with financial issues and for food from our pantry. I'd be interested in knowing what other churches do for their security and safety.

Posted by Roberta Karstetter | May 4, 2012 10:30 PM

Mary-Marguerite and I were postulants in the Diocese of NC in the late 1980's. She was a fabulous priest and her gift of life through organ donation is a tribute to her generosity and love. May God welcome her home.

Posted by Judith Davis | May 4, 2012 10:41 PM

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