WINSTON, Remm. -- Two worshipers and one suspect are dead after a shooting outside a Remmington mosque Monday night.
The shooting took place around 7:30 pm at the Winston Islamic Centre, located in Winston's east side.
Police say a lone gunman, who has tentatively been identified as 62-year-old Joseph Delaney, entered the building and shot two women inside the meeting area before being tackled by a group of parishioners.
The handgun with which the gunman was armed discharged during the struggle, striking and later killing Delaney.
Winston Police arrived within two minutes of the first 911 call. The Recida County Sheriff's Department and Remmington State Police also responded.
Seven people were injured during the shooting, but had minor injuries, police said.
The two victims have not been identified by name, but police confirmed they are two females, one in her late 40's and the other a teenager.
The attack appears to be a hate crime, Winston Police Chief Devin Haston told the media in a press conference Monday night.
The suspected shooter, Joseph Delaney, was said to have anti-Muslim literature inside his vehicle at the time of the shooting. Police confirmed Delaney had also posted anti-Islam comments on Facebook in recent months.
"This appears to be a religiously-motivated hate crime. It appears the perpetrator of this crime had malevolence toward the Muslim community and [he] carried out this attack as a sort of 'payback' for attacks by Muslims on Westerners," said Chief Haston.
The Winston Islamic Centre was specifically targeted, and police found evidence Delaney had researched the mosque's schedule of events and worship activities before executing the attack.
Officials do not think the suspect knew or had connections with anyone that attended the mosque, which is the city and region's only Islamic house of worship.
Winston Mayor Michael Dugail said the entire city was grieving the tragedy.
"Winston is hurting tonight," said Dugail. "Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families of those that were killed, and to the entire Muslim community. Your loss is our loss," said the mayor.
Three hundred miles northeast, Remmington Gov. Jen Stevens Taylor said he was outraged by the shooting.
"We are a nation built on the freedom to worship peacefully. This attack was not just an assault on one mosque but on the entire principle of free worship," said Stevens Taylor.
A deeply conservative governor who has been openly critical of Islam over recent years and become a hero of the centre-right, Stevens Taylor reiterated his support for law-abiding Muslims.
"Muslims have the same right to worship freely and openly as you and me. These folks were worshiping peacefully. They were exercising their right and doing so without threatening others. They were attacked simply for being Muslim, and that's wrong. I might have my issues with radical Islamist militants and I may disagree with the teachings of the Quran, but I'm a firm believer in the freedom to worship that is guaranteed by this country's Constitution," said an adamant Stevens Taylor.
President Brenton Menuhaeo called the shooting "an attack that hits at the very core of Grassadellian values." The president insisted the shooting does not represent Grassadellia's views toward Muslims.
"This was one estranged, disturbed individual. He does not represent what Grassadellians feel in their hearts and believe. We are a nation of peace, tolerance, and freedom of expression. This tragedy will not deter us from progressing into a more tolerant, accepting society," said Menuhaeo.
Grassadellia's largest Muslim advocacy group, Muslims United, condemned the attack.
"Hatred and violence cannot and will not be tolerated against Muslims in Grassadellia," read a statement from the group. "We demand justice for the victims of this unwarranted hate crime."
The Winston Chronicle reported Crown Police and intelligence services were searching the home of the alleged suspect, Monday evening.
Authorities are calling the shooting a "lone wolf" attack and do not believe any other suspects were involved.
The shooting took place around 7:30 pm at the Winston Islamic Centre, located in Winston's east side.
Police say a lone gunman, who has tentatively been identified as 62-year-old Joseph Delaney, entered the building and shot two women inside the meeting area before being tackled by a group of parishioners.
The handgun with which the gunman was armed discharged during the struggle, striking and later killing Delaney.
Winston Police arrived within two minutes of the first 911 call. The Recida County Sheriff's Department and Remmington State Police also responded.
Seven people were injured during the shooting, but had minor injuries, police said.
The two victims have not been identified by name, but police confirmed they are two females, one in her late 40's and the other a teenager.
The attack appears to be a hate crime, Winston Police Chief Devin Haston told the media in a press conference Monday night.
The suspected shooter, Joseph Delaney, was said to have anti-Muslim literature inside his vehicle at the time of the shooting. Police confirmed Delaney had also posted anti-Islam comments on Facebook in recent months.
"This appears to be a religiously-motivated hate crime. It appears the perpetrator of this crime had malevolence toward the Muslim community and [he] carried out this attack as a sort of 'payback' for attacks by Muslims on Westerners," said Chief Haston.
The Winston Islamic Centre was specifically targeted, and police found evidence Delaney had researched the mosque's schedule of events and worship activities before executing the attack.
Officials do not think the suspect knew or had connections with anyone that attended the mosque, which is the city and region's only Islamic house of worship.
Winston Mayor Michael Dugail said the entire city was grieving the tragedy.
"Winston is hurting tonight," said Dugail. "Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families of those that were killed, and to the entire Muslim community. Your loss is our loss," said the mayor.
Three hundred miles northeast, Remmington Gov. Jen Stevens Taylor said he was outraged by the shooting.
"We are a nation built on the freedom to worship peacefully. This attack was not just an assault on one mosque but on the entire principle of free worship," said Stevens Taylor.
A deeply conservative governor who has been openly critical of Islam over recent years and become a hero of the centre-right, Stevens Taylor reiterated his support for law-abiding Muslims.
"Muslims have the same right to worship freely and openly as you and me. These folks were worshiping peacefully. They were exercising their right and doing so without threatening others. They were attacked simply for being Muslim, and that's wrong. I might have my issues with radical Islamist militants and I may disagree with the teachings of the Quran, but I'm a firm believer in the freedom to worship that is guaranteed by this country's Constitution," said an adamant Stevens Taylor.
President Brenton Menuhaeo called the shooting "an attack that hits at the very core of Grassadellian values." The president insisted the shooting does not represent Grassadellia's views toward Muslims.
"This was one estranged, disturbed individual. He does not represent what Grassadellians feel in their hearts and believe. We are a nation of peace, tolerance, and freedom of expression. This tragedy will not deter us from progressing into a more tolerant, accepting society," said Menuhaeo.
Grassadellia's largest Muslim advocacy group, Muslims United, condemned the attack.
"Hatred and violence cannot and will not be tolerated against Muslims in Grassadellia," read a statement from the group. "We demand justice for the victims of this unwarranted hate crime."
The Winston Chronicle reported Crown Police and intelligence services were searching the home of the alleged suspect, Monday evening.
Authorities are calling the shooting a "lone wolf" attack and do not believe any other suspects were involved.
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