A 31-year-old man drove recklessly into a church parking lot this last weekend. He then spent a bit of time equipping himself with a tactical vest, AR-15, pistol, and more than a dozen loaded magazines.
Church security spotted the man about 11am, and called the police. The man approached the building, and started firing through the windows into the church.
A deacon driving his F150 noticed the commotion, and used his pickup to “run over” the man. Afterward, church security engaged the shooter, stopping him.
One of the church security members were injured by way of a shot to the leg, and is in stable condition.
The story with the church’s statement is here.
A more recent story interviews one of the security team. He noted that it wasn’t clear who was responding to the shooter.
What wasn’t clear at first was that two of the three security team members on duty that day were trying to deal with the shooter, according to Trombley’s account. He and the other team members were in different locations. The team member who was outside was injured in the shooting.
The security team member also noted that the team has had many trainings including a recent refresher, which helped him respond.
While this incident doesn’t take place in the dark, I think it’s important for many readers who attend worship services. Does your church have security? Does your security team keep eyes outside? Does the team have a method to clearly and quickly communicate?
Additionally, I think this incident should also make us look at defensive weapons a little more broadly. While using a vehicle as a defensive weapon may seem unorthodox, the truck in this case was quite effective. This is especially true for less permissive environments, where you may not be able to carry a pistol.
