A 24-year-old man was arrested after an incident Saturday in which a driver crashed through the doors of an occupied Catholic church in Oc...
A 24-year-old man was arrested after an incident Saturday in which a driver crashed through the doors of an occupied Catholic church in Ocala, Florida, then set the building on fire.
Although people were inside Queen of Peace Catholic Church, no one was injured, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Ocala is about 80 miles northwest of Orlando.
Steven Shields, 24, was charged with attempted second-degree murder, first-degree arson, burglary with assault, and eluding law enforcement. He was being held without bail.
Shields allegedly drove a van through the church doors and into its foyer at about 7:30 a.m. Saturday and then spread gasoline before starting a fire.
The Sheriff’s Office said security video from the church shows a man carrying large red gasoline cans. After pouring gasoline on the floor, the man slipped and fell. He then lit the fire after throwing a shoe into the foyer, according to the Ocala Star-Banner.
A woman in the foyer at the time told deputies she asked the man if he was all right.
The Sheriff’s Office said a vehicle chase ensued before deputies took Shields into custody.
The incident came as churches have emerged as a target in America’s culture wars. Activist Shaun King, for example, called for religious art to be destroyed. The Florida incident, coupled with church fires in California, left some people calling for more attention to protecting America’s houses of worship, according to Fox News.
According to the Star-Banner, Detective John Lightle of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said Shields admitted setting the fire and reeked of gasoline after police caught him.
Shields called his action “awesome” and smiled and laughed during questioning, according to an arrest affidavit. Lightle said Shields told him he was diagnosed as a schizophrenic but was not taking his medicine.
Shields said he has issues with the Catholic Church and referred during his questioning to passages in the Book of Revelation and other parts of the Bible. Shields also said he was on a “mission” and referred to himself as a “king.”
“We praise God that no one was injured,” the Diocese of Orlando said in a statement. “We join in prayer for Father O’Doherty, the parishioners of Queen of Peace Catholic Church, our first responders and the gentleman who caused this damage.”
The church was not closed by officials, but they did move other Masses into the parish hall.
“Our freedom of worship granted in the Constitution is a freedom that we all hold dear. My deputies and I are sworn to protect that right and will always ensure our citizens can worship in peace,” Sheriff Billy Woods said in a statement.
“I’m proud of my deputies for capturing this man so quickly, and we appreciate the assistance from all of the state and federal agencies that worked alongside of us during this investigation,” he said.
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