BULLETS FIRED INTO CHURCH ON LEXINGTON

Shots were fired late Thursday night at La Croix United Methodist Church, shattering the front-door glass and damaging a parked van belonging to the church's music director.

Police and church leaders said they don't know why shots were fired at the building at 3102 Lexington. Police have no suspects.

Music director Chris Nall was the only one at the church when the shots were fired about 11:25 p.m. Nall was working in his windowless office behind the church auditorium when 10 shots were fired from a .22-caliber handgun or rifle.

Nall didn't see who fired the shots. "It just sounded like something was falling. I didn't hear gunshots at all. I heard glass breaking," he said.

He continued his work, thinking something might have fallen off a shelf.

A few minutes later he walked toward the front office and discovered the shattered glass in the front door.

He rushed into the office and called police. Worried that there might be an intruder, he stayed in the office until police arrived."I didn't want to be knifed or something," he said Friday.

As it turned out no one had broken into the church.

Once police arrived, Nall examined the damage to the church. Only later did he notice that the rear window glass in his van had been shattered by a bullet. "It went through the back window, bounced off the front window and the bullet went through the dash," he said.

Nall had left his van unlocked, but nothing was stolen from it. The shooter or shooters apparently weren't interested in burglarizing the church or the van."I don't think they even cared," said Nall.

Police, he said, suggested it could have been a drive-by shooting. Police Sgt. Carl Kinnison said skid marks were found near the church, suggesting that a vehicle sped away.

Police found 10 shell casings at the scene.

The Rev. Ron Watts said seven bullets struck the door and the stucco-like exterior around the church entrance. Another struck Nall's van, parked near the front entrance.

One of the bullets fired at the front door of the church ended up striking the bottom of one of the interior doors in the foyer.

Watts pointed out the damage to a reporter Friday morning. Watts said the vandalism seems senseless."We have received no threats," said Watts as a glass company worker removed glass chips from the damaged door. "You wouldn't think that would happen in Cape Girardeau."Watts still had a sense of humor Friday. "I have a bad sermon now and then, but I don't think it warrants getting shot," he said.

La Croix United Methodist Church has been in the building for four years. Watts said this is the first vandalism he can recall at the church.