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Nevada shooting: 1 dead, 1 injured after man opens fire in Mormon church

Police said the suspect appeared to be targeting a specific person inside the church.
Credit: Sam Gross/RGJ
Fallon Mayor Ken Tedford, left, and Chief of Police Kevin Gehman speak at a Sunday evening news conference.

Update, 8:35 p.m.:

One person died and another was injured after alleged shooter John O’Connor, 48, opened fire at the Fallon Church of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, according to officials.

At an evening news conference, officials said Charles E. “Bert” Miller, 61, died from his wounds. A second male victim, whose name was not released, was treated and released at an area hospital.

Kaitlin Ritchie, a spokesperson for the city, said earlier in the day that a motive for the shooting was unclear, but it appeared that O’Connor was targeting a specific person inside the church.

“It looks like he was actually going after one of the victims, but it is a little too early to understand,” she said.

Miller is survived by a wife, three children, and “many grandchildren,” officials said.

“This is a very deep time for us, and a time of mourning for our community,” Fallon Mayor Ken Tedford said at the news conference.

O’Connor is a member of the church and had been attending church services prior to the shooting.

After the shooting, O’Connor fled the scene on foot and went back to his house nearby, officials said. Police surrounded the home and called a hostage negotiator to the scene.

After a call to the home, O’Connor exited and surrendered to officers.

Police were securing a search warrant for O’Connor’s home Sunday evening.

Update, 5:35 p.m.:

One person is dead and another injured after John O'Connor, 48, allegedly opened fire in the Fallon Church of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, according to officials.

Police are withholding the names of the victims until their family members can be notified.

Kaitlin Ritchie, a spokesperson for the city, said a motive for the shooting is unclear at this time, but it does appear that O'Connor was targeting a specific person inside the church.

"It looks like he was actually going after one of the victims, but it is a little too early to understand," she said.

O'Connor is a member of the church and had been attending church services prior to the shooting.

After the shooting, O'Connor fled the scene on foot and went back to his house, which is nearby. Police surrounded the home and called a hostage negotiator to the scene.

After calling the home, O'Connor exited the home and surrendered to officers.

Police are securing a search warrant for O'Connor's home.

Original story:

There was a shooting Sunday afternoon at Fallon Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to Kaitlin Ritchie, a spokesperson for the city.

Ritchie could not confirm is anyone was injured in the shooting, but said the shooter is in custody.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is made available.

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