The president of a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was shot during an apparent home invasion.
R. Tyler Wallis, 56, was shot by an intruder in his home on Saturday, Aug. 16, during what church officials believe was an attempted robbery in Mexico City. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. local time, according to a statement released by church spokesperson Sam Penrod.
Wallis was taken to a local hospital and is in stable condition, according to the statement. Wallis’ wife, Elizabeth Wallis, was also present at the time, but she was not injured.
“The Church is working with local authorities to investigate the incident. “All missionaries are safe,” the statement read.
“We are praying for President and Sister Wallis, their family members, and the missionaries during this difficult time. The Church is grateful to the thousands of missionaries and their leaders who serve as volunteers all over the world to spread the love and peace that the Savior Jesus Christ provides to each of us,” the statement concluded.
Elizabeth’s brother, Kevin Thorstenson, posted on Facebook what he claimed was a text from his sister following the shooting.
“Prayers are needed immediately. We had a robbery at our house, and Tyler was shot,” Elizabeth wrote in his post.
Later that day, a family friend posted an update on Tyler’s status on Facebook, stating that he had been shot “just below the sternum,” but that the bullet had “not hit any organs or arteries.”
“An undeniable miracle that he is not dead,” she remarked.
On Sunday, August 17, PEOPLE contacted the Mexico City Police Department and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for comment, but received no immediate response.
According to a February Church News release about new church leadership, the couple and their four children relocated to Mexico City from Orlando, Florida.
