Churchgoer killed in fight over seat at Sunday service ALFRED NG NEW YORK DAILY NEWS 04/28/2016 6:15 PM ET facebook Tweet
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Churchgoer Shot At Church After A Seat Fight In Sunday Service NY Daily News
A churchgoer shot a fellow parishioner in a Pennsylvania church after a fight broke out over a seat in the sanctuary on Sunday, authorities say.
The argument started when a churchgoer told Robert Braxton III, 27, he was sitting in seats reserved for two other church members during Sunday service at the Keystone Fellowship Church, district attorney Kevin Steele said.
He yelled "don't f---ing touch me" after a church member tapped him on the shoulders to let him know he was in someone else's seat, an affidavit obtained by NBC Philadelphia said.
ONE INJURED, SUSPECT IN CUSTODY AFTER SHOOTING NEAR PA. CHURCH
Witnesses said Braxton started causing a fuss over the seat, but soon calmed down after talking to a church usher and a pastor.
Robert Braxton was killed in a Pennsylvania church on Sunday after an argument over a seat.VIA FACEBOOK Robert Braxton was killed in a Pennsylvania church on Sunday after an argument over a seat. But the situation soon turned violent when Mark Storms, 46, approached Braxton, carrying a gun in his hand and telling the 27-year-old to get out of the sanctuary.
The gun-toting suspect then flashed a Concealed Weapons Permit badge, which the district attorney’s office belives was purchased online.
“When he came over, he had a gun out, escalating the situation,” Steele said at a press conference on Thursday. “Braxton then took a swing at the defendant, punching him in the jaw.”
"F--- you and your fake badge, get the f--- out of here," witnesses recalled Braxton telling Storms. "That's not a real gun," another witness remembered hearing.
Mark Storms, 46, flashed a concealed carry badge before opening fire on Braxton, killing him.MONTGOMERY COUNTY DA Mark Storms, 46, flashed a concealed carry badge before opening fire on Braxton, killing him. Just before punching Storms, Braxton asked, "What are you going to do, shoot me?" according to the court records.
The gunman then opened fire, blasting Braxton once in the chest and again in the right arm.
Braxton was rushed to Abington-Lansdale Hospital, where he died from his multiple gunshot wounds.
The 46-year-old gunman was arrested and charged with voluntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment.
Montgomery County district attorney Kevin Steele said there was no reason to ever bring a gun to a crowded church.ABC 6 Montgomery County district attorney Kevin Steele said there was no reason to ever bring a gun to a crowded church. “Storms’ shooting of Mr. Braxton was not a reasonable self-defense situation,” the district attorney said.
Steele said Storms had no reason to bring a loaded gun to a crowded church on a Sunday morning, and had no right to confront Braxton, who was in the process of calming down.
He added that an average of 250 to 300 people attend that church’s Sunday service each week.
“It just doesn’t make a lot of sense to me to bring a gun to church,” Steele said.
The Keystone Fellowship Church held a special service on Monday after the deadly shooting.ABC 6 The Keystone Fellowship Church held a special service on Monday after the deadly shooting. The victim’s family was outraged that their loved one’s life was ripped away at church.
“You don’t go to church to be killed, you just don’t do that,” Diana Walters, Braxton’s aunt, told WPVI. “He’s a young man. He had his whole life ahead of him.”
The Keystone Fellowship church held a special service on Monday to mourn Braxton’s death.
“Our hearts are deeply grieved over the tragic event that occured Sunday morning, April 24 at our Montgomeryville campus. As a church family, we are shocked and heartbroken over what took place, and our congregation is in prayer for everyone involved,” the church wrote in a statement on Facebook.
At Storms’ arraignment, the alleged killer insisted that he used a weapon in self-defense. His bail is set at $250,000. Storms told police that he was hoping to defuse the situation by showing a gun, which, according to court documents, he's done in the past.
A WELL-REGULATED MILITIA being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
Thank you NRA for switching the conversation (and laws and court rulings) from the first part to the last. Because this shitstain is not well-regulated.
Storms told police that he was hoping to defuse the situation by showing a gun, which, according to court documents, he's done in the past.
Ohhhh...okay. Uhm...
Also, I need more details about this fake badge.
And MW that is totally how I would react - except for that woman who was killed in the LES about ten years ago - she used that phrase when being held up by some kids and yup, they shot her. Sometimes when my temper flares, I think of her.
Edit: He bought the badge off the internet once he got his CWL. I'm guessing he's a wanna be cop since all the articles have them basically saying this is not one of ours and he's never been on of ours.
Post by Miss Phryne Fisher on Apr 29, 2016 11:36:22 GMT -5
But you know, prayer in schools would solve all of our problems. When all houses are a house of worship, everything is peaceful. <--read this in response to the girl being killed in the Delaware school bathroom fight.
I'm confident this is totally what Jesus would have done. right? right.
Also...the fake badge part is deeply weird. This is PA. You can get a permit to carry concealed as long as you aren't a felon. You fill out a form and BOOM, permit. they're a shall issue state. you dont' need to download shit off the internet.
Omg, pulling out a gun is not defusing the situation! And he's done this before? This guy is a danger to society and I hope he sits in prison for a long time.
Post by cookiemdough on Apr 29, 2016 12:19:17 GMT -5
There are lots of reasons to reserve seats. Maybe there is a guest speaker, maybe someone is going to be acknowledged for something special, maybe they reserve it for elderly members that need assistance, maybe the ushers sit there after performing their duties. This is a sad story and another example of unnecessary gun violence and people getting access to guns and apparently fake credentials way too easy. But of course let's make sarcastic comments about church instead.
cookiemdough, I just want to briefly say that my comments were not sarcastic. I'm so sad about this.
My H has been encouraging me to pick my faith back up, and I am trying so hard. Then things like this happen, and I remember that my state now allows people to carry guns wherever they want. It's honestly hard for me to leave the house sometimes.
Of course, I also respect societal norms - like not sitting in seats reserved for other people. But it's still hard to leave the house when you think things like, "Everything I do today has the potential to cause a conflict with someone else, and that someone else might have a gun."
Shit like this is exactly why I no longer feel 100% safe in church, in the grocery store, in my child's elementary school. Because we let any asshole carry their deadly weapon around.
cookiemdough, I just want to briefly say that my comments were not sarcastic. I'm so sad about this.
My H has been encouraging me to pick my faith back up, and I am trying so hard. Then things like this happen, and I remember that my state now allows people to carry guns wherever they want. It's honestly hard for me to leave the house sometimes.
Of course, I also respect societal norms - like not sitting in seats reserved for other people. But it's still hard to leave the house when you think things like, "Everything I do today has the potential to cause a conflict with someone else, and that someone else might have a gun."
I know, I wasn't bothered by your comments. In general though the tone on this board surrounding any discussions when it comes to church or religion can get annoying. Church is open to all people and none of those people are perfect.
cookiemdough , Spot on. This guy is clearly doing his own thing, a fake badge. The church is not to blame for his shenanigans.
I think, although I could be wrong, that people are responding to the sentiment that churches are safe havens from gun violence, that prayer will eradicate gun violence as if it creates some kind of magical force field. I think we can all agree that people are inherently flawed and often have poor judgment (as demonstrated in this incident). The more people that carry guns casually, the higher the likelihood that something will go wrong. No place is safe.
Why would they reserve seats at church? I'm gonna add church to the list of places where I sit close to the emergency exit and keep a close eye.
For the most part, people sit in the same places every Sunday. Well at least that is the case with every church I have ever attended. You should probably be cautious everywhere because crazy people like to pop off anytime and anyplace.
cookiemdough , Spot on. This guy is clearly doing his own thing, a fake badge. The church is not to blame for his shenanigans.
I think, although I could be wrong, that people are responding to the sentiment that churches are safe havens from gun violence, that prayer will eradicate gun violence as if it creates some kind of magical force field. I think we can all agree that people are inherently flawed and often have poor judgment (as demonstrated in this incident). The more people that carry guns casually, the higher the likelihood that something will go wrong. No place is safe.
I think, although I could be wrong, that people are responding to the sentiment that churches are safe havens from gun violence, that prayer will eradicate gun violence as if it creates some kind of magical force field. I think we can all agree that people are inherently flawed and often have poor judgment (as demonstrated in this incident). The more people that carry guns casually, the higher the likelihood that something will go wrong. No place is safe.
Who says that?
People who act surprised that gun violence happens in church. Not anyone in this thread specifically, but it's an idea I see espoused elsewhere.
Eta: I probably should have used the word sacrosanct instead of safe haven. The idea that the physical space of church will be respected by all who attend when unfortunately, that's just not the case.
Sounds like the sacred church of the Holy Motherfucking insane. Not one person involved seems rational.
It's a mega church. They have 3 locations. They believe in traditional marriage and all that jazz. I know because I got FB ads about their bible study a few months ago. NOPE.
People who act surprised that gun violence happens in church. Not anyone in this thread specifically, but it's an idea I see espoused elsewhere.
Eta: I probably should have used the word sacrosanct instead of safe haven. The idea that the physical space of church will be respected by all who attend when unfortunately, that's just not the case.
They must not go to Church then!! My Stepdad once had to stop someone from whupping the Ministers ass.
People who act surprised that gun violence happens in church. Not anyone in this thread specifically, but it's an idea I see espoused elsewhere.
Eta: I probably should have used the word sacrosanct instead of safe haven. The idea that the physical space of church will be respected by all who attend when unfortunately, that's just not the case.
They must not go to Church then!! My Stepdad once had to stop someone from whupping the Ministers ass.
Omg, the Minister? I was raised Lutheran and granted it's been a long time since I've been to church but that shocks even me. lol