Police Seek Man Who Allegedly Pointed Gun At Edmond Parishioner

A man reportedly pulled a pistol on a church-goer in Edmond, and fled the scene on Wednesday afternoon, according to Edmond Police.

According to the Edmond Police Department, on Wednesday around 4 p.m., authorities responded to a report at St. Monica Catholic Church near 192nd Street and Western Avenue. The report stated that an armed man pulled a semi-automatic pistol on a member of the church, according to police.

Police said the man was lying on the ground and pulled out the gun after a member of the church came to check on him. Edmond police said the man then ran away through a nearby neighborhood, which was caught on surveillance cameras.

Fr. Stephen Hamilton, the church's pastor, issued the following statement following the incident:

“I am very grateful to my alert parishioners and to the swift response from Edmond and Oklahoma City Police Departments. This was a very disturbing and frightening event. I thank God that nothing worse happened. Our congregation prays for this subject and for help in his situation. We also pray that God’s protection and peace be ours. I urge anyone with any information to contact local law enforcement. I ask all congregation members to observe greater vigilance as we seek to provide a secure campus.”

Emily Ward, the spokesperson for the Edmond Police Department, said the department has increased patrols in the area while it searches for the man.

“I’m sure that’s the last thing he expected to find that afternoon when he was at church," she added.

Jordan Taylor lives nearby and was driving home right as the incident unfolded. She believes she saw the man running away as she was coming home. “As I heard about the man later on, I was like ‘I think that’s the guy that was running,'" she said. "When I saw the picture, I was like, ‘That’s exactly what he was wearing running.’ So, that was crazy.” Taylor said she's been pleased with Edmond's response, and that she doesn't feel unsafe in the area.

Anyone with information about the man's identity is asked to call Edmond Police at: (405) 359-4420