Masonic Temple lodge leader murdered in Detroit

56-year-old Jerry Sears was killed while sprucing up Mt. Olive Masonic Temple

DETROIT – Detroit Police are investigating the murder of the Grand Master of the Mt. Olive Masonic Temple on Fenkell Saturday night.

Jerry Sears, 56, was sprucing up the Temple when somebody shot him.

"I understand whoever did this, was waiting around the corner. He was out here talking on his phone," said The Grand Chaplin, Richard O'Banion.

Local 4's Jim Kiertzner asked, "They walked up on him, shot him?" O'Banion answered, "And ran."

200 people from seven states are coming to Detroit and Dearborn for a Masonic convention. The group will be going to the Temple for an open house.

The man's mother, other family and members of the Temple all gathered Saturday night to console each other, to pray for Sears, to find his killer and the reason why.

O'Banion says, "Why? We're all dumbfounded by this because he was a hell of a nice guy. Excuse the expression on television."

The convention will not be cancelled, but will be a tribute to Sears and his life.

The Chaplin has to put this into words and is finding this a tough assignment.
"Tonight when I go home, I'm just going to pray over it and see what the Lord gives me to say to these folks."