WHITELAND, Ind. -- A 72-year-old Whiteland pastor was listed in critical condition Sunday after he was attacked, allegedly by a church member.

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Witness Describes Attack

David Cooper, 40, is accused of choking the Rev. William McElory (pictured, left) into unconsciousness in the sanctuary of Whiteland Missionary Baptist Church at about 10 a.m.

Jerry Burke, who claimed to have witnessed the attack, said that even after police arrived and began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Cooper shoved an officer out of the way and began choking McElroy again.

"He actually jumped back on top of the pastor and was choking him. I was trying to get his hands off our pastor's neck. When I first came in and saw him lying there I checked for a pulse, and there was none," Burke said.

Police said officers needed to use a Taser gun on Cooper several times in order to arrest him.

Investigators said they did not know what prompted the attack, but said Cooper and McElroy had a strained relationship and apparently had argued before the attack.

Cooper had no injuries that would indicate a struggle between the two, but clothes and items from pockets were strewn around the altar, Whiteland Police Chief Joe Pitcher said.

"The altar looked like a murder scene," he said.

Cooper was being held on preliminary charges of attempted murder and battery causing serious bodily injury, RTV6 reported. Police said he does not have a prior record.

Burke said that if McElroy could talk, he would tell his church to pray for the man who attacked him.

McElory was on a life-support system at a hospital Monday. He has led the 80-member church for about 18 years, RTV6 reported.