A disruption occurred during a Mass service at St. Mary Magdalen Church in Abbeville, Louisiana when a teenager dressed in black allegedly pulled a gun at the back door. Parishioners prevented the teen from entering the church, and police were called just after 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. The teen was arrested and taken into custody without any injuries reported.
The 16-year-old suspect was interviewed by officers with a guardian present before being evaluated at a hospital. He was charged with terrorizing and two counts of possession of a firearm by a juvenile. The church was swept for any additional threats, and Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel commended the quick response of the Abbeville Police Department and parishioners for ensuring the safety of everyone present.
Law enforcement will be present at all upcoming Masses as a precaution, and the community is invited to attend and receive First Holy Communion. The incident caused panic, but the swift actions of parishioners and law enforcement prevented a tragedy from occurring.
