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An 87-year-old priest was in Stony Brook University Hospital on Tuesday after he was violently beaten and robbed in his own home on Long Island.
As police search for clues, friends are looking for answers, CBS2’s Marc Liverman reported Tuesday.
A small, quiet community was transformed into a crime scene on Sunday. Parts of Oak Tree Lane on Shelter Island were closed off for a police investigation after officers found the priest beat up in his home. Whoever attacked him also stole from him before taking off.
“The people who attacked him, on a personal level, they’re evil because who would attack such a … I mean the man is a real nice man,” a friend named “Kirk” said.
The Episcopal Diocese of Long Island identified the priest as Paul Wancura. Kirk said Wancura is a supply priest where he comes to pray at the Episcopal Church of the Messiah in Central Islip.
“He’s somebody that you could really talk to. When you have a problem you can go to come and talk to him. You have no issues. He’s real nice,” Kirk said.