Shooting at Church Festival Injures 3

The Associated Press reported that three people were shot and injured Saturday when a man used a semiautomatic weapon to open fire during a church festival in Los Angeles.

Fernando Diaz Jr., 33, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after the incident at St. John Baptist de la Salle Roman Catholic parish. The victims included Diaz’s 29-year-old wife and a 45-year-old man, both of whom were in stable condition at the time of the report. A 43-year-old man was listed as critical.

As Diaz was being taken into custody, he made the following comment to reporters: “I don't really have too much to say about that. It's a personal thing between me and the church.” When asked if he has a grudge against the church, he said, “The church has something against me.”

Diaz reportedly has been engaging in a custody battle with his wife over their son, who attends the church’s school. The festival was scheduled to open to the public 10 minutes after the shooting occurred, so most of the people standing around were children and volunteers, setting up tents and tables.

Two off-duty police officers were responsible for apprehending the suspect, one a police officer for Burbank, Calif., and the other for Los Angeles.

According to the Los Angles Times, the church resumed the festival Sunday in an attempt to prove that the evil from the shooting would not disrupt their plans.

“If we didn't go forward, then the shooter won," said Karen Tibbitts, business manager for the church, to the Times. "We need the money, and we've had this festival for 21 years. We need a nice place for our children.”

Church security has become a major issue, especially in light of the shootings earlier this year at two houses of worship in Colorado. To read more about plans to make your church secure, click here.