As approximately 60 children were scheduled to receive their First Communion, church parishioners prevented a prospective mass shooting from occurring on Saturday in a Louisiana chapel.
A 16-year-old male suspect was detained Saturday night after he attempted to enter St. Mary Magdalen Church with a shotgun, according to the Abbeville Police Department. Around 10:35 a.m., the Abbeville Police Department received a tip about a” cautious man with a firearm.”
According to KADN, the affair at St. Mary Magdalen Church occurred about 48 hours into Saturday’s company, which was being livestreamed. A man approaches Father Nicholas Dupre and whispers things into his ears, as seen on a video of the incident. Next Dupre instructed the congregation to stay while he began to pray the Hail Mary.
The church’s back door, where the military teenager tried to enter, was opened while the priest remained quiet. Afterward, Dupre and a church bishop were seen ducking behind the altar as the conflict grew more vocal.
” The man was escorted outside and confronted by congregation. Upon introduction, Officials arrested the suspect and placed him in custody”, the Abbeville Police Department explained. ” Officers from the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Abbeville Police Department conducted a blow through the chapel to make sure there was no more risk and that no one was hurt,” said the statement.
Witnesses to the event on Saturday reported to KADN that the suspect was dressed in black and carrying a shotgun. The 16-year-old suspect had a parent present, was afterward interrogated by the police, and had a medical evaluation at the behavioral unit at Abbeville General Hospital.
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Reverend Louis J. Richard claimed a client had “handgun on his hip,” and that the teenager had been denied entry to the service in a statement outlining more details of the incident from Saturday. Richard explained that one called the police department after another church member removed the think from the building.
The teenager believe has been charged with terrorizing and two counts of possessing a juvenile, according to the Abbeville Police Department.
The Diocese of Lafayette wrote in a Facebook post,” We are appreciative of the fact that a tragedy was avoided at the children’s First Communion mass in Abbeville. The Abbeville PD’s swift reaction and vigilant congregation serve as excellent examples of our community’s compassion for the most vulnerable. Let’s worship that all threats of violence against honest people’s lives are put an end to.
For upcoming people, St. Mary Magdalen Church has announced further safety will be in position. Announcing the extra protection measures, the chapel stated,” Out of an abundance of caution, we may have armed law enforcement at all future Masses”.
