"Our hearts and prayers go out to these young men and their families."

A missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was fatally shot Monday night and his companion wounded after the two were attacked while proselyting door-to-door, according to police and Virginia media reports.

The attack occurred just after 6 p.m. in the Deep Creek area of Chesapeake when a man approached the 21- and 19-year-old men, shot them and fled, police said.

Church spokesman Dale Bills said the two, Elder Morgan W. Young of Bountiful and Elder Joshua Heidbrink of Greeley, Colo., were serving in the Chesapeake area, part of the Richmond Virginia mission. Bills did not know the ages of the victims.

However, Bills said he could not confirm a fatality.

"What I know is two of our missionaries were involved in a shooting in Chesapeake, Va.," he said late Monday night.

Conflicting reports were received by the Deseret Morning News from the police and the hospital where the missionaries were reportedly taken.

But at the Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, where police said at least one of the missionaries was admitted, a spokeswoman said a Morgan Young was listed in critical condition and a Joshua Heidbrink was listed in good condition.

Virginia media reported the older victim died Monday night. Police described the gunman as a black male, about 5-foot-10. They said he was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and denim jeans.

One of the victims ran to a nearby nursing home seeking help, police said.

Police shut down part of the neighborhood while searching for the man. There was no immediate word on what prompted the shootings.

"This is close to home," said Bobby Gatling, who said he has lived on the block for two years. "Nothing like this has ever happened here before."

E-mail: astowell@desnews.com