A cleric, Reverend William Schooler, 70, was on Sunday, February 28, 2016 shot dead by his own brother before the congregation around 12:30 pm in the middle of the church service at St. Peter’s Missionary Baptist Church in Dayton, Ohio.
The shooter, Daniel Gregory Schooler, 68, was arrested and charged with murder after the police were called to the scene, according to reports.
A niece of the pastor and the suspect, Joyce Napier, said that her uncle Gregory Schooler, suffers from “bipolar and is schizophrenic. He had a lot of things going on he was dealing with.”
Over 20 parishioners fled from the church as the shooter fired shots at his brother on the pulpit during the choir ministration.
Schooler’s friend and fellow community leader, Ronnie Moreland, said: “He had deep roots in the community.
“He was a beloved leader. It’s hard to put into words what has happened.”
The pastor’s wife, who was with him at the time of the shooting, was not hurt.
Sgt. Creigee Coleman said: “I want to make sure that the public understands this was not a random act of violence. This was somewhat of a domestic situation between family members.”
