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Man strikes back
From the Associated Press:
Police: Alleged Victim Shoots Priest
Tue May 14,12:09 PM ET
By GRETCHEN PARKER, Associated Press Writer
BALTIMORE (AP) - A priest was shot and seriously wounded by a man who had accused him of abuse years ago, authorities said Tuesday.
Dante Stokes, 26, surrendered Monday night, saying he had shot the Rev. Maurice Blackwell, police spokeswoman Ragina Averella said.
Blackwell was in serious but stable condition Tuesday at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center.
Blackwell was shot about 6 p.m. Monday outside his home.
Witnesses told police Stokes tried to talk to Blackwell before the shooting, Averella said. Police said Stokes shot the priest with a handgun.
Blackwell is on a leave of absence from the Archdiocese of Baltimore because the church found in 1998 he had an inappropriate relationship with a minor, said Ray Kempisty, a spokesman for the archdiocese.
Averella said Stokes told police he had been molested by Blackwell nine years ago. Kempisty said there had been a 1993 allegation against Blackwell but he was returned to priestly duties when police dropped the case. It was not immediately clear if that case was the allegation Stokes had mentioned.
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