Fred Winters

- Shot and killed during a church sermon on Sunday, March 8, 2009FOXNews.com: Report: Illinois Church Gunman Was Mentally Ill (March 9, 2009)
- Was the pastor at the First Baptist Church in Maryville, Illinois
- Pronounced dead at Anderson Hospital in MaryvilleCBS News: Pastor Killed In Illinois Church Shooting (March 8, 2009)
- Father of two children: Alysia Grace and Cassidy HopeSpoke.com: Fred Winters professional profile
- Spouse: Cindy Lee (Jackson)Spoke.com: Fred Winters professional profile
- Served as church's senior pastor since 1987Spoke.com: Fred Winters professional profile
- Earned doctorate at Southern Baptist Theological SeminarySpoke.com: Fred Winters professional profile
- Former president, Illinois Baptist State AssociationSpoke.com: Fred Winters professional profile
- Church has approximately 1,000 membersCNN: Church pastor killed during service, police say (March 8, 2009)
- Town is about 10 miles east of St. Louis, MissouriCNN: Church pastor killed during service, police say (March 8, 2009)

Pastor Fred Winters was shot and killed while performing a morning service at the First Baptist Church of Maryville, Illinois on March 8, 2009. According to witnesses, the attacker walked towards the pulpit in the midst of the 8 a.m. service and shot Winters with a handgun. After the gun jammed, the shooter pulled out a knife and was restrained by parishioners, two of whom were injured in the scuffle.CNN: Suspect charged in pastor's shooting death (March 9, 2009)
27-year-old Terry Joe Sedlacek was charged with the murder of Winters on March 9, 2009. Sedlacek was severely injured during the incident and was brought to the hospital.CNN: Suspect charged in pastor's shooting death (March 9, 2009) Sedlacek suffers from a mental illness that his family said stemmed from Lyme Disease.FOXNews.com: Report: Illinois Church Gunman Was Mentally Ill (March 9, 2009) STLToday.com: Church shooting suspect has mental illness from Lyme disease (March 9, 2009)
Suspect

Terry Joe Sedlacek has been charged with first-degree murder of Winters. Sedlacek allegedly shot Winters and then pull out a knife. Two churchgoers reportedly started wrestling with Sedlacek and were injured by the knife, but their injuries were not life-threatening. Sedlacek was severely injured and brought to the hospital.CNN: Suspect charged in pastor's shooting death (March 9, 2009)
Theatricality

Winters was known for injecting a bit of theatricality into his sermons. When parishioners saw an armed man walking towards the pulpit while he was delivering his sermon, many assumed it was part of a planned skit. The effect was heightened when the gunman's first shot hit Winters' Bible, sending bits of paper - which looked somewhat like confetti - into the air. It was only after Winters fell to the ground and was visibly injured that witnesses realized what had happened, and attempted to subdue the shooter.CBS News: Preacher Slay Witnesses Unfazed At First (March 9, 2009)
Church Shootings

The Maryville shooting may be the nation's first since July of 2008, when Jim Adkisson opened fire in the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville. Adkisson pleaded guilty to the crimes, saying he disagreed with the teachings of the liberal Unitarian organization, and was sentenced to life in prison.Associated Press: Tenn. church shooter pleads guilty, gets life (February 9, 2009)