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Two arrested in Dec. 3 shooting incident involving LDS missionary

By Genelle Pugmire - | Dec 15, 2021

Courtesy Fauber Family

Elder Michael Fauber, 18, of Dayton, Ohio, was shot five times Dec. 3, 2021. Two suspects have been apprehended.

Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the Dec. 3 shooting of Elder Michael Fauber, a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Alabama Birmingham Mission.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Marshal’s Service took Courtney Lee Knight, 18, into custody. He is in jail on a $60,000 bond, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

Knight is accused of entering the Birmingham Stake Center gymnasium in Vestavia Hills on Altadena Road and opening fire on the 18-year-old Fauber.

A warrant was also issued for 22-year-old Cornelius Omar-James Knight. He is in the Jefferson County Jail charged with hindering prosecution during the investigation. His bond is set at $15,000.

The following is a statement from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department:

“Our detectives worked tirelessly to develop the information from what initially seemed to be a needle in a haystack. Through collaborative efforts with the U.S. Marshal’s Service, the community and other law enforcement agencies, they were able to solve this unwarranted attack on a blameless person. Our agency is extremely proud of the efforts by all those involved in helping to bring this case to a close.”

According to information released from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Fauber of Dayton, Ohio, was in the Birmingham Stake Center with two other missionaries and a group of people interested in learning more about the church.

“A weekly athletic activity was being held and basketball was being played in the cultural hall,” said Sam Penrod, church spokesman. “At approximately 8:30 p.m. Elder Fauber spoke with an unknown individual who came into the building during the activity. A few moments later, Elder Fauber was shot multiple times. The shooter then fled.”

Fauber was shot five times and has had to have three surgeries. Two bullets struck him in the right side of the chest. One grazed his head. He is still in serious but stable condition and improving, according to the Fauber family, as reported by the Deseret News.

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