By Bob Allen
A Missouri man faces multiple charges after allegedly shooting a gun in a Southern Baptist church during Sunday morning worship.
About 40 people at First Baptist Church in Norwood, Mo., were in attendance July 21 when an armed man walked into the church and fired a shot into the floor. A second shot fired as church members subdued the assailant. One of the men who tackled the gunman suffered a minor shoulder injury.
An arrest document said that Earnest Smith, 48, of Hartville, Mo., told police he was angry at the pastor and church members because they lied about him following a previous incident at the church June 9. No one at the church wanted to file a complaint at the time, but the Wright County Sheriff’s Office held Smith for a 96-hour psychological evaluation in Springfield.
Smith now faces felony charges of assault, unlawful use of a weapon, making a terrorist threat and armed criminal action. The most serious offenses are punishable by up to 15 years in prison. He remains in custody on $250,000 bond.
Church Pastor Stephen Fugitt told local media that he believes quick action by church members saved lives.
“Everyone is traumatized, but we are thankful,” Fugitt told KOLR television in Springfield, Mo. “We believe we had a divine help that prevented anything worse from happening. We are people of faith, so we aren’t going to let this distract us from our purpose.”