The man accused of shooting a pastor's wife outside their church was arraigned in court on Monday.
Kunta Kinta Cupe is facing several charges including assault and criminal use of a firearm.
Cupe is accused of shooting Angela Semiday in the hip outside her Arch Street church on August 19 while she was holding a bible study with about a dozen children.
Prosecutors said there was an altercation near the back of the church and Cupe had returned to the site. Details were unavailable because court documents remained sealed tonight.
Cupe's attorney said in court on behalf of his client that the defendant denies the allegations.
Police arrested Cupe Friday after he was stopped in a car on the Meriden and Berlin town line.
He's being held on a $750,000 bond.
Cupe's wife spoke with NBC Connecticut after court. She strongly denied the allegations.
“He did not have no type of weapons on him he didn’t have anything for him to be charged with something that’s not even true. I was with him the whole time.” The woman did not reveal her name. She then told us, "He was definitely set up with everything. He was with his uncle, his uncle picked him up. I don’t know who shot the lady. So my conolences to that lady – I really do truly apologize – because it was not my husband. It was not Kunta Kinta Cupe at all.”
When NBC Connecticut spoke to Semidey last week, she was recovering at home after being released from the hospital.
On Monday, she said she was healing.
"I am going through a process of healing – both physically and mentally – but in my heart there is no hate,” She told reporter Catalina Trivino, who translated the interview. Semidey only speaks Spanish. She told NBC Connecticut she had to push the dozen children back into the church when gunfire rang out.
Semidey continues to have trouble walking since she was injured. She uses a cane and walker -- but she wants her alleged shooter to know she forgives him.
“I would tell him to accept the Lord as his only savior because he is the one who gave us life and can guide us,” said Semidey.
