2nd Church Shooting Victim Not Expected To Survive

Private Holy Eucharist service held Sunday morning

A Maryland Episcopal church where a gunman opened fire said Saturday that a priest who was critically wounded remains in critical condition but is not expected to survive.

St. Peter's Episcopal Church released a statement saying the Rev. Mary-Marguerite Kohn, co-rector of the parish, is on life support to assist her family's intentions to donate her organs.

Parish Warden Craig Stuart-Paul says the 62-year-old Kohn never turned away a person in need. He says even in death, she is giving life through her organs.

Brenda Brewington, a church secretary, also was fatally shot Thursday. Police say a disgruntled homeless man shot the women after he was turned away from the church's food bank and became angry. Douglas F. Jones then killed himself in the woods where he lived nearby.

The church announced that a private service will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday solely for members of St. Peter's congregation "to begin healing.''

Stuart-Paul recalled that the church offered support to mill workers and laborers in early Ellicott Mills, and after a fire destroyed the church in 1939, it was rebuilt with burned bricks from the former site and re-opened the following year.

"St. Peter's has a long history of caring for the poor and needy in Howard County, a tradition formed at the very birth of this church in 1842, and a ministry that was lovingly continued by the Rev. Mary-Marguerite Kohn and Brenda Brewington until the tragic events of May 3,'' Stuart-Paul said in a statement.

Funeral arrangements were not yet available. Memorial donations may be made to St. Peter's, 3695 Rogers Ave., Ellicott City, MD 21043.


The Rev. Mary-Marguerite Kohn (Courtesy St. Peter's Church and the Kohn Family)

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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