A Connecticut pastor was shot early last Sunday morning, May 24, while putting out Memorial Day flags, NBC Connecticut, the Hartford Courant, and several other news outlets reported. 

Augustus Sealy, 54, pastor of Hartford First Church of the Nazarene, was shot twice in the leg and once in the shoulder around 6:30 a.m. local time. The Courant reported he was found in the road. 

A little over 10 minutes later, another individual was shot six times. The 27-year-old male victim was shot in the torso and arms, NBC Connecticut reported. Both victims were taken to the hospital and released this week.

Police issued an arrest warrant June 1. They are also investigating the shootings as a possible hate crime. 

Hartford First Church official Elton Adams told NBC Connecticut on Monday that Sealy was outside the church placing flags in the yard as part of an annual tradition for the church's Memorial Day celebration. The Courant reported American flags bordered the front lawn of the church along the sidewalk, but stopped abruptly.

A service was also planned later that day to honor Sealy's fifth anniversary at the church. WFSB reported an associate pastor at the church canceled the Sunday afternoon celebration though Sealy requested things continue as planned. 

Members of the church arriving for Sunday services were shocked to hear the news about their pastor.

A note on the church's website requested prayer for Sealy and his family. 

"There’s so many mixed emotions right now. It’s hard," Myrna Springer, a secretary at the church, told NBC. "People’s spirits are low. We just don’t know.”

She told NBC Connecticut that Augustus is a "very caring" and "comfortable person" who is "easy to get along with."

According to reports, there have been at least three fatal shooting in Hartford in the last two weeks.

Prayer is requested for the victims and Hartford First Church.