Four Injured After Man with Knives Attacks Worshipers During Latter-day Saint Church Services in Brazil
Dec 2, 2018, 8:08 PM
APARECIDA de GOIANIA, Brazil – Four people were hurt in a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel after police say a 28-year-old man armed with knives interrupted worship services.
The incident happened in the Colina Azul Sector in Aparecida de Goiânia, a metropolitan region of the capitol, and police say the man stabbed at least two worshipers and apparently hit two others.
Witnesses reported the man “stuck his foot in the door, came in and said, ‘Everybody’s going to die.’ Then he stabbed those in the front,” said Sergeant Willian Moraes.
The crime happened around 10:30 a.m. in a chapel located at Rua Albatroz. According to police, of the four wounded faithful, one of them was hit while trying to contain the suspect.
The situation caused panic in those who were in the church.
“You do not expect this kind of action, especially inside a church,” Moraes said.
A 31-year-old, 33-year-old, 40 -year-old, and 42-year-old were all injured during the incident. Two of those people were stabbed.
The health unit of the hospital reported the 33-year-old man received care and was released. The 31-year-old patient was transferred to the emergency hospital to undergo vascular surgery on his right wrist. Information on the other two injured people was not available.
Police arrested the suspect and took him to the 1st Police District of Aparecida de Goiânia to record the incident.
According to Moraes, the man said he got agitated after watching a video on the Internet.
“He saw a video that God cursed black and bald. Since he’s a bit bald, he decided to go into the church with two knives and stab everyone,” said Moraes.
According to the PM, the man can be charged with serious bodily injury or attempted murder. It will be up to the civilian police on duty to define the crime.
The Brazil area Church presidency released the following statement:
“We are saddened to report that this morning (Sunday, December 2nd) a man entered a chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Goiânia, Brazil during a worship service and threatened the congregation with multiple knives. Four members of the congregation and the attacker were injured during the incident. All are receiving medical care, and police have arrested the attacker. Inquiries about the details of the attack should be addressed to police. The Church is providing support to those who were present during the incident, and we are praying for all involved. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been recognized in Brazil since 1930, and there are more than 1.5 million members of the faith throughout the nation.”
