(TheBlaze) – A man burst in on a North Carolina church’s outdoor service on Sunday with the reported aim of attacking congregants with a knife, the New York Post said on Monday. A quick-thinking sheriff’s deputy was almost immediately on the scene, however, and was able to take down the suspect.
The suspect — who reportedly lives across the street from the Oak Grove Baptist Church in Waxhaw, North Carolina — purportedly became irate Sunday morning, charging the service while armed with a knife. Authorities reveal that the suspect is 54-year-old Christopher Ross.
According to WSOC-TV, deputies arrived on the scene after reports of Ross interrupting the service and threatening congregants. The outlet reported that at least one churchgoer attempted to diffuse Ross’s anger, but was unsuccessful. “I couldn’t really hear what the words were, but the gentleman had come to the edge of his driveway. Was yelling and very belligerent,” pastor Rich Myers said.
A sheriff’s deputy arrived on the scene and ended up struggling with the suspect before deploying tasers. The tasers apparently did not work, and the deputy ended up with no choice but to fire his weapon at the suspect, striking him. READ MORE