Man shoots Pastor's mother inside church

Pastor's mother killed in church shooting

Aurora Police say the shooting happened in the 10600 block of East Bethany Driv
e. 9NEWS has learned the shooting took place at the Destiny Christian Center located in a busniess park near Parker Road and Havana Street. According to Yolanda Marant, the media contact for the church, the shooting happened right at the end of service Sunday, sometime after 2 p.m. "Our drummer was waving for a couple of people in our service to come out,"

Marant said about the end of the service. She says the drummer waived for the off-duty officer and the pastor's mother to come outside. According to Marant, she didn't know why the church's drummer was asking people to come out. Marant told 9NEWS the drummer,an off-dutypolice officer and the pastor's mother were outside and then the congregation heard, "get down." "I've never been in any kind of trouble. I've never heard a series of shots," Marant said. "Three shots back to back. All of a sudden, people were told to get down. We hit the floor, our kids were on the floor. [We told] everyone not to go outside."

 The congregation hid in different rooms. Marant said, "only God protected us." Aurora Police say the shooting suspect and the pastor's mother were shot and taken to a local hospital. "They both people were rushed to the hospital. When they were transported, they were in serious condition," Officer Frank Faina, spokesperson for the Aurora Police Department said. The pastor of the church, De Lono Straham, tells 9NEWS his mother, Josephine Echols, lovingly called "Mother Jo" bychurch parishoners,passed away on Sunday evening. Police say the suspect also died. Officers say the suspect was shot by an off-duty Denver Police officer.

Marant says the officer is a member of the church and is the pastor's cousin. According to Marant, she did not know who the shooter was or why he shot at the church members. She described the shooter as a young man. "It literally just happened," Marant said. "We've never seen the young man before in our lives." The church released the following statement Sunday evening: "Please keep Pastor Delono Straham, the Straham family and The Destiny Center in your prayers." Marant told 9NEWS the church is somewhat hidden away and one would have to know about it, where it is and the time of worship to find it. Aurora police are interviewing the off duty officer and eyewitnesses to understand why the suspect came to the church and opened fire.
Source www.9news.com