Fr Stephen Gutgsell, a Catholic priest from a small community in Nebraska, passed away after being stabbed with a knife in the church rectory.
Fr Gutgsell called the police saying that someone was attempting to break into the rectory of the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska.
When officers arrived, they found Fr Gutgsell injured and a suspected attacker inside.
The 65-year-old priest was taken to hospital, where he died from his injuries.
The attack happened at 5:05 a.m. local time on Sunday, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, which said that deputies arrived at the scene and found a suspect inside the rectory. The suspect, Kierre L. Williams was taken into custody and transported to a county correctional facility.
Williams, 43, was arrested on charges of homicide and using a weapon to commit a felony, Washington County Sheriff Mike Robinson said in a statement. A motive is not known at this time, and there is no further threat to the public, the sheriff’s office said.
“The Archdiocese of Omaha is praying for Father Stephen Gutgsell,” the Archdiocese of Omaha said in a statement. The statement asked mourners to join the archbishop in prayer for Gutgsell, his family and the parish community.
(Picture Courtesy: Archdiocese of Omaha)
