Re: 911:: Two reported shot at Missouri monastery

[Guest guest]

" Conception Abbey " - Now there is an oxymoron!

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> The Conception Abbey is a Benedictine monastery and seminary. The monks also

> operate a printing house and small guest houses.

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>

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[Guest guest]

Here's another news source update:

Monks Among Dead In Catholic Abbey Shooting

One Of Dead Victims Had Guns

CONCEPTION JUNCTION, Mo. -- Three people, including two monks, were killed

and two others were injured after a gunman opened fire at a Roman Catholic

abbey in northwest Missouri, authorities said.

One of the dead victims was found in a chapel at Conception Abbey

Benedictine monastery with two weapons, an AK-47 and a sawed-off

..22-caliber rifle, Nodaway County Sheriff Ben Espey said. The Missouri

State Highway Patrol said that man, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot

wound, shot the other victims.

One of the injured was in serious condition at Heartland Regional Medical

Center in St. ph and the other was in surgery Monday at St. Francis

Hospital in ville.

" Apparently a gunman -- or gunmen, we're not sure at this time -- entered

the facility and opened fire, " Missouri State Highway Patrol Lt. Tim Hull

said. " They're still looking. We're unaware if the suspects are still on

the ground or on the scene. "

Capt. Ricks of the Missouri Highway Patrol said the death toll is at

three now, but he thinks that number will rise. He said he had no idea of a

motive and said it is shocking that anyone would have anything against

these individuals. Ricks said the Abbey is one of the most serene, peaceful

places you could imagine.

The Conception Abbey is a Benedictine monastery and seminary. The seminary

college on campus is the largest priestly training center in the Diocese of

Kansas City-St. ph led by Bishop J. Boland. The complex also

has a basilica and publishing operation.

Summers, spokeswoman for the Kansas City-St. ph archdiocese,

said her office did not have enough information to make a statement.

The college lists a staff of 19 priests, eight brothers, one sister, six

lay professors and a student body of 97.

The abbey is located on a 30-acre rural campus about 90 miles north of

Kansas City.

Ronda Strueby, 39, a supervisor in the packaging department of the Abbey's

printing house, said all employees were evacuated about 9 a.m.

" One of the monks, Brother , said there's a man in the monastery

with a gun, and we need everyone to evacuate, " she said. " We were all told

to go home.

" There's a lot of helicopters and things around now. We heard he was in the

monastery connected to the church. ... It's just not something you think

about happening especially in a religious institution. "