ATLANTA--The Buckhead Coalition has established a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for shooting a stained glass window at Holy Spirit Church.

Seven bullets from a .45-caliber automatic pistol hit the church's stained glass window of the Holy Trinity which is situated above the altar on Feb. 4, according to Msgr. Edward J. Dillon, pastor. Some of the projectiles and seven shell casings were recovered, he said.

"Our membership is repulsed by such behavior and calls on the city officials to use all power at their command to rid the area of the riffraff responsible," Sam Massell, president of the Buckhead Coalition, said in a statement March 20 deploring the Holy Spirit incident and a March 16 act of vandalism at Kingdom Hall of the Jehovah's Witnesses.

"Desecration of a house of worship epitomizes contemptuous behavior, which the community cannot tolerate. In such a situation, men and women of good will must come together to shout disapproval. We plead with the public to produce leads to the police."

Msgr. Dillon said he appreciates the support of the organization. "It is encouraging to see the support and concern manifested by the members of the Coalition," he said. "The president, Sam Massell, called me as soon as he heard about the window. . .The initial response from the city was almost total indifference--the reaction of Sam Massell and the Buckhead Coalition was in marked contrast."

Msgr. Dillon estimated the cost to repair the window to be in excess of $5,000 and said the 65-foot-high church ceiling was also damaged and that repair will be costly.

"The ceiling of the church will also have to repaired since the bullets went through the glass and struck the ceiling," Msgr. Dillon said. "We do not have exact estimates on that yet--but, for example, rental of the scaffolding alone will be about $10,000 and it was guesstimated that it would be about three days' work since the pews will have to be removed."

The church, which is located at 4465 Northside Drive, hopes to have the window repaired by Easter Sunday.

Holy Spirit was apparently not singled out for vandalism. Two homes in nearby areas were also shot at the evening of Feb. 4.

The Buckhead Coalition's $5,000 reward also has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for spray painting building walls at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses at 258 W. Wieuca Road on March 16.