A weekday Mass at a California parish was interrupted as police pursued an alleged armed suspect who had fled into the church. Stunned parishioners at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Placentia raised their hands above their heads as several law enforcement officers entered toward the end of a morning liturgy on 16th January.
Shortly before Mass, police had received a call about possible gunshots nearby and a second call reporting a man with a gun in the area. Witnesses advised officers the man had been seen entering the church. In a clip from the livestreamed Mass shared by local media, officers can be heard off-camera shouting: “Police, get on the ground” as the celebrant was elevating the consecrated host and chalice before the recitation of the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) in Mass.
Some 10 members of the Placentia Police Department located the male suspect, whose identity is being withheld by police, “in one of the rear pews,” Sgt. Joe Connell told OSV News. After a 20-minute security sweep of the church, worshippers were permitted to return and conclude the liturgy. Connell said the suspect has been released without charge as police continue to search for the gun and ballistic evidence.
Picture: A screenshot from a livestream video shows parishioners raising their hands as law enforcement personnel enter St Joseph Catholic Church during Mass in Placentia, California, 16th January 2024. (OSV News photo/stjosephplacentia.org) Editors: best quality available.