The sanctity of the church was destroyed when Joseph Pallipurath, 27, of Sacramento burst into the Knanaya church and shot down 3 people including his wife. He had been estranged from his wife and in the fight two more people who tried to intervene were also shot and critically injured. The whole thing started over a domestic quarrel, which turned violent. This disharmony had been continuing over the last one year according to witnesses.
11.44am Joseph Pallipurath drove to the Knanaya church which is about 10 miles to the West of Manhattan. He had an altercation with his wife in the foyer who refused to leave the church with him. This apparently enraged him and he took out a small silver gun, which he was carrying. The first shots had everyman running for cover. Two people who tried to intervene were also shot by him.
After the shoot out he ran out from the church and escaped in his green convertible Jeep Wrangler. His jeep license no 5JHD200 was noted but he eluded the police on Sunday night. The victims were immediately rushed to the hospital. Reshma James the gunman’s wife died around 4 pm. she was only 24 years old and had been married him a year ago. She was a trained nurse from India and their marriage had been an arranged one. They had had continuous discord and Ms James had often complained of physical abuse. One could not believe that it would lead to this.
“It was very scary,” Anna Manimalethu said. “My kids are still scared.”
The sad state of affairs had continued for quite some time and the couple had also seen a counselor.
“He said he couldn’t do it anymore,” Mr. Panavelil said. As for Ms. James, he said, “He was torturing her too much.” The couple had agreed to part ways and Mr. Pallipurath had gone to California and Ms. James to New Jersey, where Ms. Perincheril took her under her wing.
