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Pastor, Church Employee Among 3 Killed In Bradenton

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BRADENTON (CBSMiami/AP) — Officials are investigating after authorities said a man killed his wife and another woman and then headed to the Bradenton, Florida, church where his wife worked and fatally shot the pastor.

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office says 33-year-old Adres "Andy" Avalos fatally shot Pastor James "Tripp" Battle at the Bayshore Baptist Church on Thursday afternoon. While at that scene, deputies learned about the other two victims from a witness to the shooting.

They went to the house and found the bodies of Amber Avalos and another woman whose name hasn't been released. Amber Avalos worked at the church as its nursery and children's director. The Avaloses have six children.

Detectives say Andy Avalos was last seen near the church driving a gold Chevrolet Suburban.

Bradenton is about 35 miles south of Tampa along Florida's Gulf coast.

(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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