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Lucas Leonard,
19, died of blunt force trauma to his body after being attacked
inside the Word of Life Church in New Hartford, New York, about
50 miles (80 kms) east of Syracuse, authorities said.
A joint investigation by the New Hartford police and the New
York State Police determined that a second victim, Leonard's
17-year-old brother had also been assaulted. He was in serious
condition at a local hospital, a press release said.
"Several church members were interviewed throughout the day and
night, and several children were secured from the church and
turned over to Oneida County Child Protective Services," it
said. Police have not released a motive for the attack.
A woman who lives near the church, Julie Howard, told local
broadcaster WKTV "there's always been weird things going on."
She said this included visits by the police and what she
described as the breeding of dogs in the building.
Police did not say whether they had visited the church before.
The victims' parents, Bruce Leonard, 65, and Deborah Leonard, 59
were arraigned on Tuesday on manslaughter charges and pleaded
not guilty. They were being held in lieu of $100,000 bail, each.
Four other church members were charged with assault in
connection with the attack on the younger victim, police said.
It was unclear how the four church members pleaded to the
assault charges or if they had obtained attorneys.
(Reporting by Victoria Cavaliere in Los Angeles; Editing by
Michael Perry)
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