What about the man of God who suffered a horrible and terrifying death? What about him?
The priest asking for prayers for the killer is appropriate. He NEEDS prayers, because his soul is twisted. As for the priest who was murdered, yes, we can pray for the Repose of his soul, but he's beyond our help, and we hope he's already in the loving arms of God. His friends and parishoners can cry out for justice for his death, and pray for his attacker at the same time. That sounds counter-intuitive, but it's what Christians believe.
I’m a lifelong Christian and a Catholic. As a human being, I think it’s too soon to immediately call for prayers for the perp as the first homily that this parish hears after their pastor has been viciously murdered.
In the same way, I did not want to hear “turn the other cheek” when I went to church on the Day of Prayer, the Friday after 9/11/2001.
I think it is okay to salt faith with common sense.