Priest Dies After Being Assaulted at Church in Nebraska

A Catholic priest died on Sunday after being assaulted at his church in Nebraska, officials said.

Father Stephen Gutgsell, a priest at St. John the Baptist Church in Fort Calhoun, was assaulted at the church's rectory. He was taken to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries. He was 65 years old.

The attack occurred at 5:05 a.m. local time on Sunday, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office. Deputies arrived at the scene and found a suspect inside the rectory. The suspect was taken into custody and transported to a county correctional facility.

The investigation is ongoing, and the identity of the suspect and the manner of Gutgsell's death have not been released. The motive behind the attack is currently unknown, and there is no further threat to the public, according to the sheriff's office.

"The Archdiocese of Omaha is praying for Father Stephen Gutgsell," the Archdiocese of Omaha said in a statement. The statement asked mourners to join the archbishop in prayer for Gutgsell, his family, and the parish community.