'Frightening experience': Armed 16-year-old escorted out of Louisiana church by parishioners
Parishioners escorted an armed 16-year-old out of a church in Lousiana over the weekend, police said.
The Abbeville Police Department received a call around 10:35 a.m. on Saturday about a suspicious person with a gun at St. Mary Magdalen Church, about 150 miles west of New Orleans. The individual was confronted by parishioners and escorted out of the church, police said in a Facebook post.
Once Abbeville police officers arrived at the church, they arrested the teenager and placed him in custody, according to the department.
Abbeville police and the Vermilion Parish Sheriff's Office then "made a sweep through the church to ensure there was no additional threat" and to confirm that no one was injured, the Facebook post said.
The teenager was then taken to the Abbeville Police Department where officers questioned him while his parent was present, according to the Facebook post. After the line of questioning, the boy was sent to the Abbeville General Hospital Behavioral United to be medically evaluated, police said.
The teenager was charged with terrorizing and two counts of possession of a firearm by a juvenile, according to the department.
'We are grateful for all the prayers'
St. Mary Magdalen Church communicated to its parishioners on Facebook, saying "a suspicious person opened the back door" of the church and "interrupted" its First Communion ceremony.
"The individual was immediately confronted by parishioners, escorted outside and the police were called," according to the church. "... This understandably caused panic. While we realize this was a frightening experience for those in attendance, we are incredibly grateful to both parishioners and police officers for acting quickly to ensure the safety of all."
Uniformed law enforcement will be at all upcoming masses "out of an abundance of caution," the church said.
"We invite First Communicants to receive First Holy Communion at whichever Mass they choose to attend this weekend," according to the church. "We are grateful for all the prayers for our St. Mary Magdalen community."
The church's Pastor Reverend Louis J. Richard said its "tranquil, peaceful (and) loving community was ROCKED and SHAKEN," according to a statement emailed Monday to USA TODAY.
"All those in attendance, the second graders, their parents, siblings, relatives, and guests, all experienced a traumatic moment, some much more directly than others," Richard said.
Teen dressed in black, armed
The First Communion ceremony was streamed live but is no longer watchable on the church's Facebook page. Footage from the live stream was captured by KADN and shows a man in a suit approaching Nicholas Dupre, the church's associate pastor who was leading the service, and whispering something in his ear.
The incident occurred 48 minutes into the service, which involved 60 children making their First Holy Communion, KADN reported. Once Dupre heard what the man whispered, he told everyone in the church to sit down and he began praying the Hail Mary, the Lafayette, Louisiana-based TV station said.
Witnesses told police the teenager was dressed in black and armed, according to KADN. After the parishioners escorted the boy out, a police officer attempted to calm those in attendance.
"So, guys, just get a hold of your child. Go slowly. We did apprehend a young man. He is in police custody. Calm down and just get next to your child,” the officer said.
Armed teenager told church he came to stop a 'disturbed person' from attacking a priest
A woman parishioner, with her small children nearby, confronted and questioned the armed teenager, Reverend Richard said in the church's emailed statement.
"She noticed a handgun on his hip and denied him further entry," according to the statement. "Having been alerted, a gentleman in attendance entered the church building from the same door and removed this young man who was then disarmed and detained. A parishioner in attendance called 911."
No one knew the teenager's intentions at that time, according to Richard. When questioned by the church, the teenager said he came to stop a "disturbed person" who was planning to come during the Mass to attack a priest, Richard's statement continued.
"Based on his story law enforcement had no choice but to enter the church to look for this supposed attacker. Mass was stopped as law enforcement dressed in tactical gear, guns, radios, vests, and dogs entered the churchbuilding to search. As you can imagine, this caused fear and panic for a full church," according to the statement.