Selma pastor praised for quick action in church shootings

SELMA — A man apparently upset over efforts to obtain visitation rights to see his month-old son shot the infant, its mother and the pastor at a church Sunday morning, police said.

None of those shot suffered life-threatening injuries but were treated at hospitals in Selma and Birmingham.

Lt. Curtis Muhannad of the Selma Police Department said James Junior Minter, 26, who is being held without bond at the Dallas County Jail, will be charged with attempted murder.

The 61-year-old pastor of the church was struck in a leg as he rushed toward Minter and tried to disarm him.

The woman fell to the floor of the church and was shot twice, once in the chin area and another in a shoulder, according to Muhannad. The baby was shot once in a hand.

The child and his mother both were taken to a hospital in Birmingham for treatment while the pastor was treated at a Selma hospital.

Muhannad praised the swift action of parishioners at Oasis Tabernacle Church where they rushed Minter moments after the first shots were fired.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that if they hadn’t responded as swiftly as they did, what happened this morning could have been deadly,” said Muhannad. “We’ve seen this happen so many times in our country.”

Witnesses told police that Minter, who is unemployed, entered the church with a hand in his pocket and walked toward the front where she was sitting with her son as the pastor was delivering a sermon from the pulpit. He then sat near her.

Moments later, Muhannad said, Minter pulled a 9mm semi-automatic and began firing as the pastor left the pulpit and rushed toward him.

“They were not married and had been estranged as they argued over custody and visitation rights of the baby,” said the officer.

Congregants took matters into their own hands and rushed toward Minter as quickly as he began to fire the gun, said Muhannad.

“They all began tussling with him, including the pastor with (Minter)” said the officer. “Then he broke loose and ran out of the church, leaving his car behind. He was caught less than a mile away on J.L. Chestnut Boulevard.”

3 people hurt in Selma church shooting; suspect arrested

Muhannad said Minter, who suffered “bumps and bruises” as members of the congregation jumped on him during the incident, has a criminal record and authorities are checking on his background.

The little church has a sign outside that said: “Compassion and Forgiveness.”