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.
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.