Armed White Man Arrested After Attempting To Commit Hate Crime At Black Church

Armed White Man Arrested After Attempting To Commit Hate Crime At Predominately Black Church

A man was arrested and taken into custody after reportedly pointing a 12-gauge shotgun at two women and attempting to enter a predominantly African American church—police believe the man was prepared for a standoff after searching his home in Ambridge, PA.

According to ABC news, police responded to several criminal complaint reports early in the morning around 9 am about Jeffrey Harris, 38, dressed in a camo vest with the gun pointed at the two women. Harris was arrested once in a business entryway once authorities arrived and faces several charges, including aggravated assault and terroristic threats.

Harris had 25 shotgun rounds on him and what was later determined to be crystal meth. Police mentioned the “multiple bizarre comments” he made on the way to the police department about a dead brother.

 

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It doesn’t stop there y’all. Police revealed what they found in Harris and his boyfriend’s home after struggling to get inside due to a slippery substance on his doorstep. A bomb squad was called to the house, where they removed a suspected explosive device.

They also discovered crystal meth, ammunition and a notebook with a handwritten script for an active shooting were found. Authorities say the house “appeared ready for a standoff,” including a weapons case with a drilled hole “creating a tactical position from which the occupant would fire at the front door from a protected position.”

The Bishop of the church, Kenneth Crumb, spoke about the incident. “When you just think about how close we came to having the same kind of horrific situation that we had at the synagogue in Pittsburgh,” he said. “It’s like the Grace of God. Thank God for his grace, for his covering over us, because this could have been a total different way.”

Harris’ bond was set at $975,000. A preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 5.