Priest killed while saying Mass

LYNBROOK, N.Y. - A gunman opened fire at a church Tuesday, killing two people, one of them a priest who had just finished delivering the homily, authorities and witnesses said. <br> <br> The Rev. Lawrence Penzes was shot during a 9 a.m. Mass at Our Lady of Peace Church, said Karen Montalbano, a spokeswoman for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, on Long Island. She said both Penzes, 50, and the other victim were killed. The second victim&#39;s identity was not released. <br> <br> The shooter&#39;s location was not immediately clear, but a neighbor said police appeared to be focusing on one home in the area. <br> <br> About 30 to 40 people normally attend the service at the Roman Catholic church, according to a church worker who would not give her name. The woman said Penzes had just finished delivering the homily when he was shot. <br> <br> Jeanette Stingone, who lives just down the street from the church, said she was leaving for work when a police officer told her to go back into her house. <br> <br> ``I looked outside and there were police with guns drawn,&#39;&#39; she said by telephone. ``Right now they&#39;re just kind of out there staring at this one house and they&#39;re not letting any of us leave.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The Rockville Centre diocese, which encompasses Nassau and Suffolk counties, is home to 1.5 million Catholics.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/3/202839