Church service halted by gunfire

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OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Gunfire outside an Oakland, Calif. church injured two people, one of whom was attending a service inside the church and struck by a stray bullet, police said.

The incident occurred Monday evening outside Centro Evangelistico Bethel in East Oakland. A 17-year-old male was wounded in a hail of bullets, and the 38-year-old woman inside the church, shielding her 7-year-old twins, was struck under the left armpit. Neither victim's injuries are life-threatening, police said.

Pastor Edvin Salguero said the unidentified woman was an Oakland resident and native of Guatemala.

Several bullets struck the church, and two penetrated the wall, the Oakland, Calif., the Tribune reported Wednesday.

"When I saw the bullets crossing the wall and people jumping to the ground, I was so scared," Salguero said, adding he guided the approximately 100 worshippers into a back room of the church.