Pastor Shot Multiple Times as He Was Placing Memorial Day Flags Outside of His Church

A pastor who was shot multiple times Sunday morning after he went outside to place commemorative Memorial Day flags on the grounds of his church is recovering following serious wounds to his leg and shoulder.

The Rev. Dr. Augustus Sealy, pastor at First Church of the Nazarene in Hartford, Connecticut, was placing flags on the church lawn in honor of the holiday when witnesses said a car slowly drove by and fired numerous shots at the preacher, the Hartford Courant reported.

Sealy, 54, suffered a shattered femur and required a metal rod be placed inside of his leg, with the drive-by shooting leaving his congregation both scared and perplexed; he was listed in critical condition as of Sunday evening.

First Church of the Nazarene member Rominita Cuadrado described Sealy as a "very kind" and a "very loving" person in an interview with the Courant. And Sealy's wife, Sharon, told WVIT-TV that the pastor is in pain, but that he hasn't lost any hope.

"You know, this is something that happened that was really terrible and shouldn’t have happened and we’ve already prayed for that person who actually committed the crime," she said. "In spite of adversities, you know we look to God for strength and that’s what my family is doing right now."

Police responded to Sealy's shooting around 6:30 a.m. after reports that the assailant was riding in a black Nissan Altima, finding the preacher laying wounded outside of the church.

A second shooting unfolded not far away around 6:41 a.m., leaving 27-year-old Robert Jones severely injured, though police are unsure as to whether the two incidents are related, according to WVIT-TV.

No arrests have been made.

(H/T: Hartford Courant)