A local Salvation Army work was murdered Saturday morning, Bible in hand.
21-year-old Jared Plesec was found shot in the head at the Euclid Beach Villa apartment complex on E 156th Street.
Police say Plesec was shot in the head by 27-year-old William Jones.
After shooting Plesec, Jones fled the scene and went on a carjacking crime spree that ended in Lakewood.
Friends and family are mourning the loss of Jared, a 2014 graduate of Villa Angela-St. Joseph.
Plesec had worked at the Salvation Army in Collinwood for several years; even wearing his full Salvation Army uniform at the time of his death.
He was a Bible study teacher there. Friends describe him as smart, sweet and full of faith. They say he would want them to forgive his killer.
The Salvation Army released the following statement, Sunday on Plesec's death:
It is with a heavy heart that I confirm your email.
Jared was an employee (youth worker) and church member of The Salvation Army Temple Corps Community Center in Collinwood. Jared died as he lived, sharing God's love. Jared passed away in full Salvation Army uniform with his Bible in hand leaving home on his day off to volunteer at The Salvation Army's Red Kettle.
In the past two days, hundreds of individuals, mostly youth, have flocked to The Salvation Army in Collinwood to pay tribute to Jared's life. They all had one thing in common, Jared loved them, he cared for them and he changed their lives.
Today our we feel great loss that Jared was taken from us too soon. Yet we rejoice that he is in heaven with the loving Heavenly Father he told so many people about.
Well done, good and faithful servant.
Jones is being charged with aggravated murder, grand theft auto and fleeing and eluding.
The incident remains under investigation.