A 25-year-old Ohio man fatally shot his father as he was leaving Easter service and then entered the church and yelled at terrified parishioners that the killing was "the will of Allah," witnesses said.
"This is the will of God," Reshad Riddle screamed, still holding the pistol, as dozens of adults and small children cowered under pews at the Hiawatha Church of God in Christ in Ashtabula, according to the local Star Beacon newspaper.
"It was terrifying," associate pastor Sean Adams told the newspaper. "The children were screaming, and people were dialing 911. We were afraid to breathe."
Police arrived at the church soon after and quickly subdued Riddle.
No other shots were fired, and none of the roughly 175 other people attending the 1 p.m. service was injured, police said.
Riddle's father, Richard Riddle, 52, suffered a single gunshot wound to the head and was killed instantly.
Ashtabula police Chief Robert Stell told the Star Beacon that Reshad Riddle was cooperating with police, but hasn't offered a motive for the killing.
"There is no indication that the father and son had a bad relationship," Stell said. "Everyone thinks this was very surprising."
Ashtabula is in northeast Ohio, about an hour east of Cleveland.
The Star Beacon said the church is in a part of town known for criminal activity.
Court records showed the alleged shooter had an extensive criminal record.
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