Coudersport, PA – Authorities say a Pennsylvania man walked into a church Sunday and shot his ex-wife while she played the organ during the service.
According to ABC news , 52-year-old Gregory Eldred, an elementary school music teacher, gunned down 53-year-old Darlene Sitler roughly 20 minutes into the morning service at First United Presbyterian Church of Coudersport, about 140 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. Eldred then returned moments later and shot her again to ensure she was dead.
After the incident, Eldred exited the building and put a handgun on the hood of his vehicle while those inside called 911.
Witnesses told police they saw Eldred pacing outside the 180-year-old church before the service and that other members of the congregation grabbed Eldred after the shooting took place around 11:30 am and held him until police arrived.
No one else was injured in the incident.
WIVB4 News notes that, in addition to her duties as organist at the Coudersport church, Ms. Sitler taught music to all students in the Pre-K through sixth-grade school and also headed the chorus and band for fifth- and sixth-graders at the Northern Potter Children’s School.
“She was just a dynamic teacher who would always go above and beyond for her kids,” said Superintendent Scott Graham.
NewsOne.com reports Eldred is being held without bond on first-degree murder and other charges stemming from the shooting. He is expected to be arraigned this week.
WIVB has more on the tragic shooting of Darlene Sitler in the video below:
