Christ Church Staffer Beaten to Death After Attack Outside House

UPDATE: A beloved staff member of Christ United Methodist Church has died after he was brutally attacked outside his home near Audubon Park.

ORIGINAL REPORT: Paul Lawler, the senior pastor of the church, announced to the congregation that Steve Pearl had been attacked while he was loading tools in his truck.

“First Responders arrived and began to do CPR all the way to the hospital,” the pastor said. “Steve is not breathing on his own. He’s on a ventilator.”

And the prognosis is not good.

“The doctors have not given him a very positive prognosis in the context of survival,” the pastor told the grieving congregation.

Memphis Police said the two suspects were wearing dark-colored clothing and fled the scene in either a silver or gold colored SUV.

Pearl is director of facilities at the large Methodist church, located on Poplar Avenue.

Lawler led prayers for Pearl’s healing at both Sunday services.

“Many of us are grieving this very deeply,” he prayed. Many of us are hurting this morning out of love for Steve Pearl and out of love for his family.”

Pearl is being treated for his injuries at St. Francis Hospital.

More details starting at 7 a.m. Monday on Wake Up Memphis With Ben Deeter and Joey Sulipeck. KWAM is where Memphis goes for breaking news. Click here to download our APP.