2 arrested in church gym shooting of Mormon teen missionary
Jefferson County AL December 15 2021
Two suspects have been charged in connection with the shooting at a church facility that injured an 18-year-old missionary.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office have charged Courtney Lee Knight, 18, with attempted murder in connection with the Dec. 3 gunfire at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints facility that wounded Elder Michael Fauber.
Cornelius Omar-James Knight, 22, is charged with hindering prosecution.
The shooting happened at the Birmingham Stake Center, which is a meeting place for the Church, on Altadena Road near Vestavia Hills.
Fauber and two other missionaries were with a group of people interested in learning more about the Church.
They were playing basketball in the center’s cultural hall – a weekly event – when about 8:30 p.m. Fauber spoke with a man who came into the building.
Jefferson County sheriff’s Deputy Chief David Agee has said the shooter – now identified as Courtney Knight – entered the gym and played a few games with them.
Then, seemingly unprovoked, the suspect started shooting, Agee said.
“This was the first time they’ve seen him at this location,’’ Agee said, adding that it didn’t appear anyone knew the suspect.
Fauber was struck multiple times and rushed to UAB Hospital, initially in critical condition. He underwent surgery and has continued to improve.
Fauber is from Ohio and has been serving in the Church’s Alabama Birmingham Mission.
Sgt. Joni Money said Courtney Knight was identified as a suspect on Dec. 9. Authorities have not said how they identified him as a suspect.
Courtney Knight was taken into custody Tuesday by the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force. He is being held in the county jail on $60,000 bond.
Cornelius Knight is being held on $15,000 bond.
Authorities have not released a motive in the shooting.
“Our detectives worked tirelessly to develop information from what initially seemed to be a needle in a haystack,’’ Money said, calling the crime an “unwarranted attack on a blameless person.”
