Pastor shot dead mid-sermon after gunman walked up to him and fired twice at close range

A Louisiana pastor was fatally shot as he preached to a crowd of more than 60 during a revival service.

Pastor Ronald J. Harris Sr. was preaching at about 8:20 pm on Friday at Tabeacle of Praise Worship Center when he was shot twice by a lone gunman.

The man went into the church while Harris was preaching and 'walked up to him and shot him at close range,' Myers said. The suspect shot him again when Harris fell to the floor.

The pastor was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sixty-five people were inside at the time, including the victim's wife, said Chief Deputy Stitch Guillory

The gunman left the church, but Myers said Karey called the sheriff's office and surrendered.

Woodrow Karey, 53, of Lake Charles is charged with second-degree murder and was held in the parish jail Saturday, Myers said. Karey's bond has been set at $1 million.

Deputies have no information on a motive or on whether the preacher and suspect knew each other, Myers said.

Myers said after picking up Karey, deputies found two guns in a wooded area - one was a shotgun, the other a .22-caliber pistol.

Myers said Karey has no known criminal history.

Crime scene: Pastor Ronald J. Harris Sr. was preaching at about 8:20 pm on Friday at Tabeacle of Praise Worship Center when he was shot twice by a lone gunman

Myers said deputies were 'interviewing everybody who was there at the church'.

Family members who answered the telephone Saturday at the Harris home in Lake Charles said there would be no comment. There was no answer at a telephone listing for Karey or at Tabeacle of Praise.