Category: News affecting the Church

U.S. Congregation cleaning up after third act of vandalism

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JEFF TURNER

A congregation in Kingston, Tennessee has endured broken windows, food marked for feeding the hungry damaged and other destruction of property caused by vandals who targeted their church building three times since May.

The most recent incident at the Church of God Open Arms Fellowship happened August 13. A news release from the Kingston, Tennessee Police Department says, “A person or persons broke into the church and vandalized the building each time. A substantial amount damage was done to the church.”

A church member said the congregation installed surveillance cameras following the first break-in.  Police are now reviewing video from those cameras.

Catholic school in U.S. hit by vandals twice in three days as administrators prepare for new school year

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DAVID INGRAM

UPDATE: Media in the U.S. report an arrest has been made in this case. CLICK HERE for an update from The Washington Post.

ORIGINAL STORY POSTED AUGUST 16, 2022:

A Catholic school in the United States has been targeted by vandals twice in the same week.

The latest vandalism at St. Anthony Catholic School in Washington D.C. was discovered Friday. Police in the U.S. say someone ransacked the principal’s office and stole an amount of cash. Statues at the school were destroyed as well. The same school received damage from Criminals on Sunday who damaged a statue of St. Anthony and shattered a window.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help pay for the damaged caused by the criminals. The organizer described the damage, Our beautiful St. Anthony statue was knocked down and broken, the nearby concrete windowsill was broken, and the statue’s head is missing. Our three playground benches were also pulled out of the ground and damaged. This desecration is a hate-crime and was reported to the police.”

RELATED: Principal calls vandalism at Catholic school in Washington ‘a hate crime’

St. Anthony Catholic School has been a part of its local community since 1922 and is preparing to celebrate its 100th year.

LOCAL MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE VANDALISM

Gunman targets US church building twice in same week

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JEFF TURNER

Police in the United States are investigating two incidents in which someone fired shots at a Catholic Church building.

The first incident happened August 6 and the second on August 8. Someone fired shots at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church building in Adams County, Colorado.  This is near the city of Denver.  No injuries were reported in either incident.

Security video from one of the shootings shows shots fired at the church by a person on a motorcycle.

The criminal, or criminals, responsible have not made their motive for the shooting known.

US: Suspect in Missouri church fire enters plea deal for lesser sentence

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JEFF TURNER

A woman charged in a May 31, 2021 Missouri church fire has pleaded guilty as part of a deal to lower the cap on her sentence.

Anna-Marie Mullins was arrested last year following a fire at Christian Fellowship Church. She was charged with theft, burglary and arson. This week she pleaded guilty to lesser charges in exchange for a two-year sentence.

Surveillance video and fingerprints led to her arrest according to a probable cause affidavit.

Florida man accused of arson at Christian school

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JEFF TURNER

A Florida man has been arrested after investigators say he set fires on the property of a Christian school.

Jail Records show Joshua James Gipson, of Perry, Florida, is charged with arson and criminal mischief resulting in property damage to a religious building for a fire at the Point of Grace Christian School. (Jail record posted below) A police report claims Gipson set fire to the school office and a bus. He is also accused of attempting to set fire to other vehicles on the property.

No motive behind the criminal act has been announced.

[+]806.01.1PPD22OFF006024 (PERRY POLICE DEPARTMENT)ARSONFF$0.00CASH$0.00
[+]806.01.2PPD22OFF006024 (PERRY POLICE DEPARTMENT)ARSONSF$30000.00CASH$0.00
[+]806.13.2PPD22OFF006024 (PERRY POLICE DEPARTMENT)DAMAGE PROP-CRIM MISCHTF$5000.00CASH$0.00
[+]810.02.2bPPD22OFF006024 (PERRY POLICE DEPARTMENT)BURGLFF$0.00CASH$0.00
[+]812.014.2c1PPD22OFF006024 (PERRY POLICE DEPARTMENT)LARCTF$0.00$0.00
[+]810.02.4aPPD22OFF006024 (PERRY POLICE DEPARTMENT)BURGLTF$0.00$0.00
[+]948.0622-45CF (TAYLOR COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE)PROB VIOLATIONNN$0.00$0.00
Information from the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office Jail Division