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PHOENIX (AP) — A homeless ex-convict has been formally charged with beating a Catholic priest with a metal rod and fatally shooting another clergyman two weeks ago during a burglary at a Phoenix church.
A grand jury indictment released Friday charges 54-year-old Gary Michael Moran with murder, aggravated assault, burglary, armed robbery and other crimes in the June 11 attack at the Mother of Mercy Mission.
Moran is accused of badly beating the Rev. Joseph Terra and fatally shooting the Rev. Kenneth Walker before he fled in Walker's car.
Moran was arrested four days after the attack.
Police say Moran had bragged about beating and robbing a priest and that a woman told them Moran had given her a bag that contained a camera belonging to one of the clergyman.
Authorities say Moran acknowledged his involvement in the crime, though he initially he didn't remember what happened.
His attorney, Bobbi Falduto, didn't immediately return a call seeking comment Friday morning.
Moran is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday.
He was sentenced to more than four years in prison after pleading guilty in 2001 to misconduct involving weapons. He also was convicted in two 1989 burglaries.
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