Church Crime Newsletter
A snapshot of the crime that has occurred at churches over the past week.
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In this edition:
Burglar Stabs man at Rehoboth Open Bible Church in Brooklyn
Gunshot Victim Seeks Help at Nashville Church
Pastor Shot While Intervening in Car Theft at Tennessee Church
Attack on Catholic Church in Burkina Faso Leaves 15 Dead
Trial Set for Man Accused of Killing Church Security Guard in Albuquerque
South St. Louis Church Condemned After Kidnapping, Assault Allegations
Lauderdale Lakes Church Vandalism Incident
Maryville Church Sexual Battery Case Proceeds to Grand Jury
Quadruple Shooting, 2 Killed in Front of Milwaukee Church
Melville Woman Arrested for Shooting at Church Workers
Phoenix Man Indicted for Bomb Hoax at California Church
There’s lots of violence in this edition, including an incident where a pastor is down and in need of our assistance. I am starting to do debriefs on YouTube on some of the more major cases and I am doing a weekly debrief of this newsletter, so make sure you are following my YouTube channel so you don’t miss a thing.
Burglary and Assault at Rehoboth Open Bible Church in Brooklyn
A 60-year-old man was stabbed in the neck during a burglary at the Rehoboth Open Bible Church, located on E. 56th St. near Farragut Road in the Mill Basin area of Brooklyn, on February 23, 2024. The church, currently under renovation, became the scene of a violent altercation around 4 p.m. when an unidentified assailant broke in and engaged in a confrontation with the victim, resulting in the victim being stabbed twice in the neck with a sharp object. The assailant then stole the victim's keys and fled the scene in the victim's 2004 Chevrolet Silverado. The injured man was promptly taken to Brookdale University Medical Center, where he is reportedly recovering. The specifics regarding whether the victim was a church employee or a construction worker on the site remain unclear, and no arrests have been made in connection with the incident.
This occurred during the workweek when service was not occurring. During these times, it is advisable to keep your church secure and locked. However, if your church is open, ensure people only have one entrance to come in and monitor that entrance to the best of your ability. You should have a quality video surveillance system so that the hard working men and women in Law Enforcement can catch the perpetrator. It’s also advisable to keep your situational awareness while working at the church.
Gunshot Victim Seeks Help at Nashville Church
In Nashville, Tennessee, a 53-year-old man arrived at a church with a gunshot wound, prompting an investigation by local authorities. The incident occurred on February 24, 2024, when the man approached outreach workers at the church located at 36 Fairfield Avenue, seeking help for his injury. He informed the outreach workers of his intention to take a bus to the hospital before attempting to leave the scene. Metro Nashville Police Department officers were able to locate him shortly thereafter, applying a tourniquet to control the bleeding. Despite being transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, the victim was uncooperative with law enforcement, refusing to provide details about the suspect or the location of the shooting. Police conducted a search in the surrounding area but were unable to identify a crime scene related to the incident.
If you have been on this newsletter for a while, you know that I often talk about criminals and others coming to churches because they feel it is a sanctuary from whomever is chasing them (either the police or another criminal). In this case, the person who shot this man may chase him into the church to finish the job. If this occurs in your church, lock your church down immediately! Lock the doors and place armed people at all entrances. Only open the doors for law enforcement. If paramedics arrive first (usually they won’t because they’ll stage until LE makes it clear), then let them in and lock the doors again. Keep your head on a swivel
Pastor Shot While Intervening in Car Theft at Tennessee Church
In a distressing incident at New Zionfield Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee, a 70-year-old pastor, Clemmie Livingston, Jr., was critically injured after being shot in the face while attempting to prevent the theft of a Sunday school teacher's car by two men. The incident occurred shortly after 9 a.m. on Sunday, February 25, 2024. Pastor Livingston, who was scheduled to deliver a sermon titled “Another Chance” that day, bravely confronted the thieves, demonstrating his fearlessness and commitment to protecting his congregation. Despite the violent encounter, Pastor Livingston is now in stable condition. The Memphis Police Department is actively searching for the two suspects, last seen fleeing the scene in a silver 2019 Chevrolet Corvette.
There is a GoFundMe for the pastor. He is not doing well according to the family. They are in need of financial assistance. I did a video breakdown of the incident, which has received over 500,000 views. Can you imagine if all 500,000 people donated just $1? Please consider donating to him if you can. Christian Warrior Training will be donating to his fund.
Attack on Catholic Church in Burkina Faso Leaves 15 Dead
In a tragic event on February 25, 2024, at least 15 individuals gathering for mass were killed in a violent assault on a Catholic church in the village of Essakane, Burkina Faso. The attack, described by church officials as a "terrorist attack," occurred in the northern region of the country, an area plagued by the activities of armed groups. Abbot Jean-Pierre Sawadogo, vicar-general of the Catholic Diocese of Dori, reported that 12 attendees were pronounced dead at the scene, with three more succumbing to their injuries later. Additionally, two individuals were injured during the incident. The attack adds to a series of violent acts in the region, some targeting Christian congregations and others involving the abduction of clergy members. Burkina Faso has been facing a severe security crisis, with armed groups causing significant civilian casualties and displacements, challenging the stability and control of the government, especially after two coups in 2022. The statement from the church called for prayers for the deceased, the injured, and the conversion of those causing such devastation.
I’m including this because we can learn from attacks like these. These savages are the same people infiltrating our country through an open border. They won’t leave their ways when they cross that border. If and when they attack our churches, they will do it in the same fashion we see in these accounts. Read them, learn from them and train for it.
Trial Set for Man Accused of Killing Church Security Guard in Albuquerque
In Albuquerque, New Mexico, a man named Marc Ward is facing a trial for the alleged murder of a 61-year-old security guard at Calvary Church. The incident, which took place in September 2022, involved the security guard, Daniel Bourne, who was fatally run over in the church's parking lot. Bourne, while on duty, had approached a suspicious vehicle, leading to a tragic sequence of events that ended with his death in a nearby arroyo, marked by apparent car drag marks. His security equipment, including his belt, phone, and gun, was missing. The police were able to trace the vehicle back to Ward, leading to his arrest and subsequent charge of first-degree murder.
This is a tragic event and one that led me to do the course on approaching suspicious vehicles. Please take the course. It is not as simple as just walking up to a car and saying, “Hi.”
South St. Louis Church Condemned After Kidnapping, Assault Allegations
The Mount of Olives Ministry, located in the Patch neighborhood of south St. Louis, was condemned by the city's building division on February 26, 2024, after being implicated in a kidnapping and assault case. A woman was found near the church in the early hours of February 24, claiming she had been held hostage and beaten inside the premises. Following her report, police arrested three men: Pasi Heri, 32, Grace Kipendo, 28, and Mmunga Fungamali, 25, charging them with second-degree kidnapping and third-degree assault. The church, known for serving African refugees and conducting services primarily in languages other than English, has been a subject of police attention with six crime-related calls since January 2023. The city inspector's condemnation notice cited illegal activities and health and safety hazards related to the building's use. This incident has raised concerns among neighbors about the church's activities, with previous complaints about its condition and behavior of congregants.
For more details on this story, visit STLtoday.
Lauderdale Lakes Church Vandalism Incident
In Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, a man was caught on surveillance footage vandalizing the All Nations New Testament Church of God Fellowship located at 4351 W. Oakland Park Blvd. The incident, which occurred around 10 a.m. on a Wednesday, involved the suspect using a large object to break multiple windows, rip open doors, and even damage an iron fence. The attack happened while church members and leaders were inside the sanctuary for routine prayer, startled by the loud disruptions. Associate Pastor Haines Brown confronted the assailant, who claimed ownership of the property and expressed a desire to gain entry. The Broward Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene, detaining the man, whose identity has not been disclosed. The church, led by Bishop Evan Grant, is facing significant repairs, prompting the creation of a GoFundMe page to cover the damages.
For more details on this story, visit Local 10 and see the video here
Maryville Church Sexual Battery Case Proceeds to Grand Jury
In Maryville, Tennessee, a grand jury in Blount County is set to hear the case of Joseph Kade Abbott, a North Carolina man charged with sexual battery by an authority figure, in connection to his role at the First Apostolic Church of Maryville. Abbott, accused of unlawful sexual contact with a minor between the ages of 13 and 18 in June 2022, also faces similar charges in Sevier County. Despite these allegations, Abbott was able to post bond in both jurisdictions and remains unincarcerated as of February 28, 2024. A civil lawsuit brought forward by the victim's parents alleges multiple instances of sexual assault at the Apostolic Christian Academy, where Abbott was employed, and criticizes the church and academy for their negligence in supervision. The lawsuit seeks a total of $4.5 million in damages for the juvenile and their parents.
For more details, read the full story here.
Quadruple Shooting, 2 Killed in Front of Milwaukee Church
A community vigil was held in Milwaukee, WI, for the victims of a quadruple shooting that occurred outside St. Catherine's parish on February 25, 2024. The shooting, which took place in broad daylight after mass had ended, resulted in the deaths of 21-year-old Brianna Sanders, a mother of three, and her 28-year-old cousin Sam Hunt. The incident, described as domestic in nature, led to the arrest of three individuals by Milwaukee police. The vigil, organized by members of the community and local church leaders, focused on mourning the loss, supporting the victims' families, and praying for first responders. Shanedra Johnson, director of urban ministry with the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, emphasized the church's role beyond Sunday services in serving and being a resource to the community.
Although this wasn’t connected to the church, it did indeed affect the church. Have you thought about events like this, unaffiliated to your church, and how you would respond? Sometimes you may need to come to the rescue of people from evil. Put this incident into your line up of possible scenarios for you to practice for.
For more details, read the full story here.
Melville Woman Arrested for Shooting at Church Workers
In Melville, Louisiana, a disturbing incident occurred at Zion Baptist Church where a 39-year-old woman from Melville was arrested after she fired a gun at four individuals working on the church's landscape. The suspect, identified as Nichol J. Kilcrease, faces multiple charges including four counts of attempted second-degree murder, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, resisting an officer, illegal use of weapons, discharging a weapon in a firearm-free zone, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported from the shooting. The police apprehended Kilcrease approximately 35 minutes after the incident. The motivation behind the shooting has not been disclosed, and details regarding her bond are yet to be released.
Phoenix Man Indicted for Bomb Hoax at California Church
Zimnako Salah, 44, from Phoenix has been formally charged after being accused of initiating a bomb hoax at a church in Roseville, California, near Sacramento. The 44-year-old was indicted for allegedly placing a backpack, purported to be a bomb, in the men's restroom of the church on November 12, 2023. This act prompted a church employee to contact authorities and led to the evacuation of nearby areas, including a special needs classroom. Investigation revealed that the backpack contained only a pillow. The suspect, identified through surveillance footage and his vehicle's registration, is also linked to similar suspicious activities at other churches in California, Arizona, and Colorado. In one instance, a storage unit associated with the suspect was found containing materials suggestive of either a destructive device or another hoax, along with antisemitic statements. He now faces charges of conveying false information and hoax, with a potential penalty of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
For further details, read the full story here: azfamily.com