Bishop Attacked with Knife, Body found in Church Parking Lot and More in this Edition
In this edition:
Church Security Threat Level
Elevated (Yellow): Significant risk of attacks, active patrolling required, regular emergency drills, and secure communication protocols.
Violent Crime
Knife Attack at Christ The Good Shepherd Church Was a Terrorist Attack According to Police
Terroristic Threat at St. Mary’s Church in Hudson, NY
Threats of Violence Towards Waldorf Church Averted
Man Found Shot to Death Behind North Birmingham, AL Church
Sexual Assaults
Former San Jose, CA Youth Pastor Arrested for Child Sexual Abuse
Online Solicitation Charges Against Fort Worth Reverend
Property Crime
Impostor Priest Arrested for Theft Across U.S. Churches
ATM Theft Using Stolen Church Van in Barry County, MO
Significant Theft and Vandalism at Word of Life Church, Memphis
Hate Crime Investigation at Christ the King Catholic Church, Glen Burnie, MD
Competency Evaluation Ordered for Royal Oak Woman Accused of Church Theft
Story Updates
Assault and Robbery at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, Queens, NY
Firework Explosion at LDS Church in Henderson Leads to Arrests
Secret Peeping Charges at Opendoor Church, Winterville, NC
FBI Arrests Phoenix Man for Planting Fake Bombs in Churches Across Multiple States
Reexamination Requested for Conviction in Calvary Church Security Guard's Death
International
Terror Plot Targeting Churches Thwarted in Germany
Severe Sentences for Gang-Related Drive-by Shooting at London Church
Shooting at Church in Mohnyin, Myanmar
Ongoing Injustice Following Church Arsons in Jaranwala, Pakistan
Church Security Threat Level
Elevated (Yellow):
Definition: Significant risk of attacks.
Security Measures: Active patrolling, both plainclothes and uniformed security personnel during all church functions, regular emergency drills, limited points of entry during high-attendance events.
Communication: Weekly detailed threat briefings, regular emergency response training for staff and volunteers, public notices as deemed necessary without inducing panic.
VIOLENT CRIME
Knife Attack at Christ The Good Shepherd Church Was a Terrorist Attack According to Police
On the evening of April 16, 2024, a 15-year-old boy carried out a knife attack at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, Sydney, Australia, injuring Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel and a priest named Isaac Royel during a service that was being live streamed. New South Wales Police arrested the suspect at the scene, and the incident escalated into a riot involving the bishop’s followers, who clashed with police, resulting in 30 people treated for riot-related injuries and significant damage to police vehicles and local property. The attack is being treated as an act of terrorism by authorities, motivated by suspected religious extremism. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New South Wales Premier Chris Minns have both spoken out against the violence and called for unity and peace. Investigations are ongoing with the involvement of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the Australian Federal Police to determine if the teenager acted alone or as part of a larger network.
Terroristic Threat at St. Mary’s Church in Hudson, NY
On April 14, 2024, a Hillsdale man was arrested for making a terroristic threat during a Sunday mass at St. Mary’s Church in Hudson, New York. The man, aged 47, entered the church wearing a mask and a black cloak, disrupted the service by shouting "All hail" and menacingly approached the altar with a glass bottle raised. He was detained by congregants before the police arrived and subsequently taken to Columbia Memorial Hospital for a mental health evaluation. After evaluation, he was charged and held on $3,000 bail. This incident prompted police to encourage the public to report any similar activities, highlighting the community's role in maintaining safety during worship services.
I’m sure he stuck out the minute he walked into the church. In such cases, have a safety ministry member stick to him like glue as he comes in. If he is there to worship, no harm no foul. If he is there to disrupt services (or worse), the safety ministry member will be able to take action right away and stop any violence attacks.
Threats of Violence Towards Waldorf Church Averted
On April 14, 2024, in Waldorf, Maryland, local police swiftly responded to reports of a man, Steven Michael Heizmann, age 39, making threats on social media to commit violence at a church located on St. Peter’s Church Road. The concerning posts, which were made back-to-back and included a live video, prompted immediate police action. Although Heizmann did not possess a firearm at the time of his arrest near Old Washington Road, he had been actively attempting to acquire one, as evidenced by his inquiries with several individuals about purchasing a firearm. Heizmann has been charged with making threats of mass violence and is currently detained at the Charles County Detention Center.
Threats of violence like this should be taken seriously. I have no doubt there would have been an attack had police not stopped him. Expect more incidents like this as ISIS and other terrorist groups ask people to attack churches in the US. Lone wolf actors who have mental illness grasp on to these messages and follow through with dangerous acts. Pay attention to our threat level at the beginning of each bulletin and take it seriously.
Man Found Shot to Death Behind North Birmingham, AL Church
In a concerning wave of violence, Birmingham, Alabama has recorded its sixth homicide in just six days, with the latest incident occurring behind the Tabernacle Baptist Church in the north of the city. The victim, identified as 33-year-old Eric Savoy Brown, was found deceased late Monday night, having succumbed to gunshot wounds. The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office confirmed his death, which marks the city's 41st homicide of the year. Surveillance and witness accounts suggest the shooting might have involved a vehicle from which the shots were fired. Despite ongoing investigations and the deployment of the city's gunfire detection system, which registered 13 rounds, no arrests have been made in connection with Brown’s death.
SEXUAL ASSAULTS
Former San Jose, CA Youth Pastor Arrested for Child Sexual Abuse
A former youth pastor from River Church Community in San Jose, California, was arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a minor, with the abuse reported to have occurred between 2014 and 2018. The San Jose Police Department initiated an investigation in January 2024 after receiving a report concerning the assault that began while the victim was a minor. The suspect, a 47-year-old male, was apprehended in Manteca and is now held on a $400,000 bail. The arrest highlights ongoing concerns over child safety within community and religious programs, prompting police to encourage anyone with information about similar cases to come forward. The suspect had also been involved with local afterschool programs and recently worked as the executive director of the Healing Grove Health Center.
Predators seek out churches that do not do proper background checks or have safeguards in place to protect children during church activities. Look at your church policies and think like a pedophile. Is there a way in for him to assault your children? Church security teams, are you making the children’s ministries part of your regular rounds during patrol?
Online Solicitation Charges Against Fort Worth Reverend
Rev. Jason Myers, a 43-year-old associate rector at Trinity Episcopal Church in Fort Worth, Texas, has been arrested and charged with online solicitation of a minor. The arrest, executed by the Collin County Sheriff's Office on Thursday, has led to his suspension under the church's "Title IV clergy disciplinary canons," as confirmed by Rev. Dr. Robert Pace in a letter to the congregation. This suspension prohibits Myers from performing any Episcopal priest functions and from contacting congregation members during the investigation and subsequent legal proceedings. The church has assured that to their knowledge, no members of the congregation or associated school were impacted by Myers' actions. Myers and his family will receive pastoral support as they navigate through the legal processes.
The church acted swiftly on the pastor, which is exactly what should be done. However, do not dismiss that your congregation hasn’t been harmed. You don’t know that until you do an investigation. Do an internal investigation and determine if any children at anytime were harmed by the pastor. If there is one victim there are 9 more that haven’t come forward.
PROPERTY CRIME
Impostor Priest Arrested for Theft Across U.S. Churches
On April 10, 2024, in Riverside, California, police arrested 45-year-old Malin Rostas, who posed as a priest to steal from Catholic parishes nationwide. Identified from his vehicle linked to previous thefts, Rostas, a New York resident with a felony warrant in Pennsylvania, was apprehended while attempting to burglarize a local church. His scheme included impersonating a priest at American Martyrs Church in Bayside, Queens, where on March 3, he deceived church personnel to access the rectory and stole $900 from Father Rayder’s bedroom. This incident is part of a series of deceptive entries that targeted religious communities, including an unsuccessful attempt at the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville’s motherhouse on Long Island. Authorities encourage anyone with related information to contact Crime Stoppers to assist in the ongoing investigation.
ATM Theft Using Stolen Church Van in Barry County, MO
In Barry County, Missouri, authorities are currently investigating an ATM theft that occurred early Saturday morning at Freedom Bank in Golden. The Barry County Sheriff’s Office reported that a white Dodge pickup truck, believed to be stolen, was found at the scene along with a church van that had been used to pull the ATM open. The van, equipped with straps and hooks, was identified as stolen from Grandview First Baptist Church in Arkansas.
Significant Theft and Vandalism at Word of Life Church, Memphis
In Memphis, Tennessee, the Memphis Police Department has apprehended Eugene Auther Long, who is accused of stealing copper wiring from the Word of Life Church and causing extensive damage to the property. The incident, which occurred on April 5, resulted in approximately $20,000 in damages, particularly to the church’s AC unit. This act of vandalism not only inflicted significant financial harm but also disrupted church operations. Long is now facing charges for theft of property and vandalism as the local community and congregation deal with the repercussions of this crime.
Hate Crime Investigation at Christ the King Catholic Church, Glen Burnie, MD
Anne Arundel County Police are currently investigating a hate crime at Christ the King Catholic Church in Glen Burnie, Maryland, following an incident where a man allegedly vandalized the church property. Early Sunday morning, the suspect reportedly broke a window to gain entry into the church, leading to charges of vandalism under the classification of a hate crime due to the targeted destruction of religious property. The police have released photos of the suspect and are seeking assistance from the public to identify him.
Your church NEEDS a burglar alarm and a 4k video system to identify suspects in crimes. I still don’t understand why churches don’t have alarms.
Competency Evaluation Ordered for Royal Oak Woman Accused of Church Theft
In Troy, Michigan, Sherin Fatehouad Sawires, 39, faces charges of unarmed robbery and larceny after allegedly stealing a purse from a worker at St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church. This incident occurred after the church, located on Livernois Road, had been financially assisting Sawires. During her recent visit to the church on April 1, she is accused of physically assaulting the purse's owner, leading to her apprehension while attempting to escape in a cab. The 52-4 District Court Judge, Kirsten Nielsen Hartig, has mandated a competency evaluation for Sawires to determine her mental state and appropriateness for trial.
STORY UPDATES
Assault and Robbery at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, Queens, NY
A 16-year-old teenager was held without bail after a violent incident on April 7, 2024, where he assaulted a 68-year-old woman, Irene Tahliambouris, and stole her car outside St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Briarwood, Queens. The teen attacked the woman as she was ascending the church steps for Sunday service, resulting in her sustaining a fractured skull and bleeding in the brain. The assailant was arrested and faces multiple charges including assault, robbery, grand larceny, and criminal possession of stolen property. This attack is part of a troubling pattern for the teen, who has been arrested nine times previously for similar offenses. The victim remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition, unable to stand or speak.
Firework Explosion at LDS Church in Henderson Leads to Arrests
On March 27, 2024, an explosion caused by a firework at the Arrowhead Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Henderson, Nevada, resulted in injuries to four individuals. The incident, described as the third of its kind at this location, prompted an emergency response from both police and fire departments. Eighteen-year-old brothers, Caden and Connor Renard, have been arrested and face multiple charges including battery with a deadly weapon, first-degree arson, and possession of an explosive device.
Secret Peeping Charges at Opendoor Church, Winterville, NC
In Winterville, North Carolina, a 21-year-old former staff member of Opendoor Church, identified only by the initials T.E., faces new charges including one count of felony secret peeping recorded on March 13th. This incident at the church adds to his prior accusations of similar offenses at a local Target store, where he was allegedly caught recording under a woman's skirt. Local law enforcement has charged T.E. with six counts of secret peeping involving three separate victims at the Target location. He was apprehended and is currently held at Pitt County Detention Center under a $10,000 bond. This case underscores the importance of public awareness and vigilance in both public and private spaces to prevent such invasive crimes.
In a previous edition, I outlined this case and advised you to sweep bathrooms before and after each service. There are cheap devices on amazon, like this one, that can help you find hidden cameras in changing rooms and bathrooms.
FBI Arrests Phoenix Man for Planting Fake Bombs in Churches Across Multiple States
FBI documents have exposed the case against a Phoenix man, Zimnako Salah, 44, accused of placing fake bombs in churches within Arizona, California, and Colorado. Captured on surveillance footage, Salah was identified visiting multiple churches where he left suspicious packages believed to be bombs from September 24 to November 28 of the previous year. These included a backpack in a Scottsdale church's sanctuary and another tied to a toilet in a church in Northern California. Upon searching Salah's storage unit in Colorado, agents found ball bearings, nails (potential shrapnel), tape, propane tanks, butane cylinders, and walls spray-painted with antisemitic messages, which highlighted his dangerous intentions and ideology. Salah, who also had a loaded gun in his car and a history of searching for violent extremist content online, was eventually arrested in Texas. He has been charged with false information and hoaxes, facing up to five years in prison if convicted. Read the full story here.
Reexamination Requested for Conviction in Calvary Church Security Guard's Death
In Albuquerque, New Mexico, Marc Ward, who was found guilty of first-degree murder for the death of Calvary Church security guard Daniel Bourne in September 2022, is seeking a reexamination of his conviction. Ward, who ran over Bourne, argues through his attorney that there was insufficient evidence to demonstrate deliberate intent, a necessary component for a first-degree murder charge. His sentencing has been postponed to June as Judge David Murphy deliberates on the motion to reconsider the directed verdict from the trial.
INTERNATIONAL
Terror Plot Targeting Churches Thwarted in Germany
German authorities successfully disrupted a planned terrorist attack over the Easter weekend, arresting four teenage suspects in Düsseldorf. These individuals, aged between 15 and 16, allegedly plotted to target churchgoers and police stations using knives and Molotov cocktails, with motives rooted in Islamist extremism.
Expect this in the US. We have already had a few arrests in the US that are similar to these. At some point, the police will miss one of these planned attacks.
Severe Sentences for Gang-Related Drive-by Shooting at London Church
Four men were sentenced to significant prison terms for their roles in a gang-related drive-by shooting outside St Aloysius Church near Euston Station in London, which occurred during a memorial service in January 2023. The attackers, using a sawn-off shotgun, grievously wounded four women and two girls, including a seven-year-old who still has a pellet lodged near her heart. The convicted individuals, Tyrell La Croix, Alrico Nelson-Martin, Jordan Walters, and Jashy Perch, received sentences ranging from 13 to 26 years for conspiracy to wound with intent to cause serious bodily harm, among other charges.
Shooting at Church in Mohnyin, Myanmar
On April 12, 2024, during an early morning worship service at a church in Mohnyin, Kachin State, Myanmar, church minister Paul Khwi Shane Aung, aged 40, was shot three times by two masked gunmen who entered the church premises at about 6:30 AM. The minister was seriously wounded in the attack and had to be transferred from a local hospital in Mohnyin to a larger facility in the state capital, Myitkyina, for emergency treatment. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear. This violent incident occurred shortly after another local pastor was killed in March, highlighting a disturbing trend of attacks on Christian leaders in the region. The congregation has been asked to pray for Paul Khwi Shane Aung’s recovery and for the safety of Christian leaders in Myanmar.
Ongoing Injustice Following Church Arsons in Jaranwala, Pakistan
In Jaranwala, Punjab, Pakistan, a devastating incident involving the arson of over 20 churches and the targeting of at least 100 Christian homes has yet to see justice, according to Bishop Indrias Rehmat of Faisalabad. The attacks, which occurred seven months ago, have led to over 300 arrests but gradual releases without charges, frustrating local Christian communities seeking accountability and safety reforms. Bishop Rehmat criticized the government's superficial repairs to three of the churches, which were merely cosmetic and did not erase the tangible reminders of the violence. The Supreme Court of Pakistan has also dismissed the Punjab government's report on the incident as inadequate.