UPDATE: Abbeville Police say they arrested a teenager at St. Mary Magdalen Church Saturday morning after getting a report of a suspicious person with a gun.
The 16-year-old was confronted by parishioners and escorted outside the church, and officers put him in custody when they arrived, police say. Law enforcement then did a sweep of the church and determined there was no additional threat and no one had been injured.
After questioning him with a parent at the police department, the teenager was transported to the Abbeville Hospital Behavioral Health Unit for a medical evaluation, police say. After that's complete he will be booked with terrorizing and two counts possession of a firearm by a juvenile.
Abbeville Police Chief Mike Hardy thanked FBI Special Agent Daren Kelly, Special Agent Paul Sellers and Supervisory Senior Regional Resident Agent Doug Herman for their help in the investigation, as well as deputies with the Vermilion Sheriff's Office who helped clear the church.
He also thanked the clergy and parishioners at the church for their quick response and for remaining calm throughout the incident.
Earlier today, Abbeville Councilman Brady Broussard Jr. told us he planned to be in Mass Saturday as he always is.
No one was injured in an incident that interrupted First Communion at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church this morning, but some crazy rumors have been circulating about what happened.
Broussard asks folks "please stick to facts and not rumors or exaggerations."
The 16-year-old suspect in the incident didn't enter the church, was arrested without incident and everyone is safe, he says.
"I'll be there for 4 p.m. Mass today as I usually do," Broussard told KATC.
Here's a message posted by the church:
Dear Parishioners,
This morning, our First Communion ceremony was interrupted when a suspicious person opened the back door. The individual was immediately confronted by parishioners, escorted outside and the police were called. The individual was quickly apprehended by Abbeville Police Department and is in their custody. Once apprehended, law enforcement entered the church to make sure there was no additional danger. This understandably caused panic. While we realize this was a frightening experience for those in attendance, we are incredibly grateful to both parishioners and police officers for acting quickly to ensure the safety of all. Chief Mike Hardy is handling the investigation with cooperation of the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s office and assistance from the FBI. Out of an abundance of caution, we will have uniformed law enforcement at all upcoming Masses. We invite First Communicants to receive First Holy Communion at whichever Mass they choose to attend this weekend. We are grateful for all the prayers for our St. Mary Magdalen community.
Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel with the Diocese of Lafayette also released a statement:
We are thankful to God that a tragedy was avoided at the First Communion Mass for the children of St. Mary Magdalen in Abbeville. The quick response of the Abbeville Police Department and alert parishioners is a great example of caring for the most vulnerable in our community. Let us pray for an end to all threats of violence to innocent human life.
No one was injured, but during the livestream of the ceremony this morning at the church a man approaches the priest and speaks to him. The priest begins to pray the rosary, and parishioners can be seen getting up from the pews and looking toward the back of sanctuary. They begin to move around, some picking up children and hurrying out of camera range.
Several people who appear to be law enforcement officers walk around the church, including behind the priest and the altar.
Then a man can be heard saying "get a hold of your child, go slowly. We did apprehend a young man, he is in custody, he's in police custody."
Here's a post from City Hall:
We've reached Abbeville Police, who tell us they'll release information as soon as appropriate.
We'll update this story as soon as we get more information.
