Nov 24, 2008 12:28 pm US/Eastern
Nationwide Manhunt For NJ Church Shooting Suspect
Police: Suspect Drove Cross-Country, Opened Fire During Sunday Services, Killing 2
CLIFTON, N.J. (CBS) ―
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A gunman, who police said drove across the country in pursuit of his estranged wife, shot and killed her and another parishioner during an attack at a church service Sunday.
CBS
A nationwide manhunt is underway Monday for the gunman behind a deadly rampage during Sunday church services in Clifton. A second victim in the shooting died early Monday morning, and the lone survivor remains in critical condition.
Neighbors of the St. Thomas Syrian Orthodox Knanaya Church are still shaken by the nature of the gruesome crime.
Police say the fugitive they're after is 27-year-old Joseph Pallipurath. He's accused of driving cross-country from California to the church on Sunday afternoon to confront his estranged wife, 24-year-old Reshma James. He had intended on taking James back with him to California, but when she wouldn't go, Pallipurath shot and killed her, then opened fire on her cousin and another male parishioner in the vestibule as service ended.
Detectives say Pallipurath then walked out of the church and drove off. They say he should be considered armed and dangerous.
The male parishioner who tried to intervene died of his injuries overnight, and James' cousin, who lives in a private community in Hawthorne, is clinging to life in an area hospital.
"It's our belief that he is headed to Georgia, where we found out he has relatives," said Passaic County Prosecutor James Avigliano.
Authorities are now searching for Pallipurath's vehicle, descibed as a green 2004 Jeep Wrangler convertible, with a black soft-top and California license plate 5JHD-200.
Police say both Pallipurath and James are of Indian descent, and lived in Sacramento. Their marriage was arranged by their families about a year ago, before the relationship soured. Police also say James filed at least two restraining orders against her estranged husband and moved to New Jersey to get away from him.
U.S. marshals have joined in the manhunt for Pallipurath.
Stay with wcbstv.com and CBS 2 for the latest in this developing story.
CBS 2's Christine Sloan and Jay Dow contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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