Police Stop Church Tragedy
A man allegedly pointed a gun at a police officer providing security at a live nativity event in Indiana, claiming he wanted to “kill everyone,” according to court documents. Tyler Leavitt, 40, is facing several charges following an incident on Saturday at Central Ministries of Fort Wayne, where he attended the event with his wife.
Leavitt reportedly pointed the gun at a police officer and then drove around the property, where approximately 100 people were present. The officer reported that Leavitt threatened to harm everyone at the event. Security personnel intervened to prevent him from driving into the crowd and successfully disarmed him. However, Leavitt crashed his truck into a ditch and continued to resist, using a knife to fight back. Police had to use force to restrain and arrest him, as he ignored commands to stop.
During the incident, one person was shot but sustained non-life-threatening injuries, while another person suffered minor injuries. Leavitt now faces multiple charges, including disorderly conduct, battery with a deadly weapon, resisting law enforcement, and other related offenses.
The church, Central Ministries, expressed gratitude for the security team’s quick response in preventing further harm. In a Facebook post, the church thanked God for His protection, noting that despite the events, the congregation was ready to gather for worship the following morning. Senior Pastor Jeremy Helmuth spoke emotionally during Sunday services, praising those who risked their lives to protect others. He highlighted the heroic actions of individuals who ran into danger to prevent further violence, emphasizing that their bravery went beyond simply fulfilling their duty.