Armed Man Claiming to Be 'Prophet' Arrested at Texas Church with Note on Phone to 'Kill'

Armed Man Claiming to Be 'Prophet' Arrested at Texas Church with Note on Phone to 'Kill' https://ift.tt/41KzZNf

Emmanuel Ashono Mbwavi is accused of threatening a pastor at a Houston church while armed with a loaded revolver and about 100 rounds of ammunition

Credit: Houston Police Dept.

NEED TO KNOW

• Emmanuel Ashono Mbwavi, 23, is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon tied to a March 15 incident at a Houston church
• A church security team member tackled him after allegedly seeing him try to pull a pistol from his pocket
• Authorities said he had a loaded revolver and about 100 rounds of ammunition in a backpack, as well as a memo on his phone with the message "kill [pastor] Jared Darby in downstairs restroom with bag"

A man who declared himself “a prophet called Warlock” is accused of threatening to kill a Texas pastor during a church service while carrying a loaded gun and about 100 rounds of ammunition, according to authorities.

Emmanuel Ashono Mbwavi, 23, is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the March 15 incident at Eden Church in Houston, according to a criminal complaint obtained by PEOPLE.

A member of the church’s security team, identified in the complaint as Fernando Romo, told investigators he recognized Mbwavi from a prior incident in which he had been asked to leave the church after passing out "concerning fliers" to church members.

Romo said he became alarmed after noticing Mbwavi wearing a backpack and appearing to conceal something on the right side of his body, per the complaint.

According to the complaint, Romo said he continued to watch Mbwavi as Pastor Jared Darby spoke with him inside the church. At one point, Romo alleged he saw Mbwavi gripping what appeared to be a pistol in his front pocket and attempting to pull it from his pocket.

Believing Mbwavi was about to open fire, Romo tackled him to the ground. While on the ground, Mbwavi allegedly began counting down, leading Romo to believe he intended to detonate a bomb. The complaint states that Mbwavi had a cellphone in his hand and was pressing the screen during the struggle.

“I’m gonna kill Jared, who is a fake prophet. I am a prophet called Warlock,” Mbwavi allegedly shouted, according to the complaint.

Romo told investigators he feared Mbwavi was trying to trigger an explosive device inside the backpack and grabbed his phone, according to the complaint.

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Authorities later recovered a .22 caliber revolver loaded with six live rounds, as well as approximately 100 additional rounds of ammunition inside the backpack, the complaint states.

A memo on his phone allegedly included the message "Kill Jared Darby in downstairs restroom with bag," and listed the license plate number and details about a black Audi SUV Q5 believed to belong to him, per the complaint.

Another church member, identified as Pastor Abraham Guajardo, allegedly told investigators, per the complaint, that Mbwavi had previously been removed from the church and denied entry, but returned that day with a firearm and backpack.

Guajardo alleged Mbwavi had earlier been asking what he described as "too many personal questions" and behaving strangely before he later saw him reach for a weapon, the complaint states. He further told investigators that Romo’s actions “saved his life and the lives of other church members.”

Investigators later reviewed surveillance footage that allegedly showed Mbwavi walking among churchgoers with his hand in his pocket holding what appeared to be a gun, according to the complaint.

Mbwavi was arrested at the scene and initially charged with unlawful carrying of a weapon before an aggravated assault charge was filed against him.

Prosecutors have asked that his bond be set at $50,000, citing the use of a deadly weapon and an allegation that he previously failed to appear in court in an unrelated case, according to a motion for bail obtained by PEOPLE.