Man Arrested on Charges of Shooting Girlfriend, Baby, And Preacher At Selma Church
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Selma Police are investigating a shooting at a local church Sunday morning.
Officers got the call around 10:30 that several people were shot at Oasis Tabernacle on the 3700 block of Water Avenue.
When officers arrived, they found three gunshot victims. One was a black female, age 24, who was shot in the shoulder and her jaw. Her one month old son was also shot in the hand. The final gunshot victim was the preacher, a 61 year old white male shot in the leg.
The three victims were taken to the local emergency room.
The male victim is being treated at the local ER and the mother and child were taken to a hospital in Birmingham. They are currently in stable condition.
Authorities say several members of the congregation told them James Junior Minter, the 26 year old boyfriend of the female victim and father of the infant, was the shooter. Witnesses say Minter entered the church and sat between the woman and child in the front row. Shortly after, they say he pulled a handgun and started shooting. The girlfriend fell to the ground and witnesses say he fired shots at her. According to police, the preacher grabbed Minter as he was shot.
Police say others in the congregation helped subdue Minter and take the gun. Officers say Minter was able to flee the scene, but was captured less than a mile from the crime scene. His vehicle was left at the scene and the gun was recovered at the church.
Minter was taken to the Selma Police Department were he was interviewed by Major Crime Unit Detectives. Afterward, he was arrested on probable cause for three counts of attempted murder and taken to the Dallas County Jail with no bond.
Minter maybe facing other charges in the shooting. Attempted murder is a Class A Felony. if convicted, Mr. Minter could be facing ten years tolLife imprisonment and fines up to $60,000.00 dollars.
So Far, detectives have determine that a possible motive for the shooting is over child visitation and ongoing domestic violence between the couple.
