An attack at a Buddhist monastery in Oklahoma City and a violent shooting in a Norman residence linked to the same suspect, Mark Christian Sheppard, have left the local communities uneasy and looking for answers. According to KOCO, a woman remains in critical condition following the assault by a sword-wielding Sheppard at the Buddha Mind Monastery. The incident occurred on a Saturday afternoon when Sheppard was asked by workers to vacate the premises.
In a related outbreak of violence, Sheppard is accused of shooting three people in a home on Torrey Pines Road in Norman. The Norman Police Department informed The Daily that the victims, one adult male and two adult females, are related. The man succumbed to his injuries while the women are in critical condition at a local hospital.
Authorities captured Sheppard soon after the incidents. "Norman officials quickly identified and located Sheppard driving in the area of Chautauqua Avenue and State Highway 9. Officers initiated a traffic stop and Sheppard was taken into custody without further incident," as per a statement obtained by News On 6. He now faces one complaint of first-degree murder and two complaints of assault with a deadly weapon, lodged at the Cleveland County Detention Center.
Back in Oklahoma City, the atmosphere at the Buddha Mind Monastery, now temporarily closed, remains tense. An anonymous manager from the monastery gratitude towards the community's support, but concerns about the safety of their members prevail. The monastery is yet to announce when it will reopen to the public. The geographical proximity between the two crime scenes, about 22 miles apart, suggests a swiftly executed string of violent acts.
