Bible saves American in shooting

The man was standing outside his church

A bible may have saved a young American's life after his mother fired a shotgun at him from close range.

The bible took the brunt of the blast, allowing 16-year-old Kenneth Wallace to escape with a few scratches.

Had his Bible not been there he could have been seriously wounded or killed

Sheriff's deputy Larry King

But his six-year-old brother James was shot dead in an earlier attack by the mother as he watched television at the family's home in North Fort Myers, Florida.

The mother, Leslie Wallace, 39, was chased by police and then shot.

She was admitted to hospital in a serious condition.

Anti-depressants

Police said they had no motive for the attacks, but believed Ms Wallace, a former US marine, had been taking anti-depressants.

Police are not sure of the motive

Police said she killed James on Sunday morning, then drove to the New Wine Ministries Church.

There she fired at her son, Kenneth, who was standing outside.

The shot hit Kenneth Wallace's Bible and a coat he was carrying, leaving him unhurt.

Brunt of the shot

"Had his Bible not been there he could have been seriously wounded or killed," the local sheriff's deputy Larry King said.

"The Bible took the brunt of the birdshot," he said.

After the attack, Leslie Wallace drove to the pizzeria where her 19-year-old son Gregory worked.

But he had been warned and did not leave the building.

Leslie Wallace then called the police to tell them about her murdered son.

Police followed her from the pizzeria, pulled her over, and shot her after she shot at them.