 |
| Add caption |
Mark Storms faces voluntary manslaughter for shooting Robert
Braxton over a dispute over seating inside a church service in Montgomery
County on Sunday. (Published Thursday, April 28, 2016)
A Montgomery County man who opened fire on another
worshipper in a packed church during Sunday service has been charged with
manslaughter.
Mark T. Storms, 46, of Lansdale, Pennsylvania, was charged
Thursday with voluntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment in the death of
27-year-old Robert E. Braxton III.
Storms shot Braxton inside Keystone Fellowship Church, a
non-denominational church on Stump Road in North Wales, on Sunday morning,
prosecutors said. The shooting happened in the church's sanctuary, which was
filled with hundreds of worshippers for an 11 a.m. service. Witnesses told
NBC10 churchgoers hid under pews as the altercation played out.
Witnesses remember Braxton arriving at church irritated and
cursing at an usher in the back of the church, court documents show. Church
staff members tried to quiet Braxton, but he refused before heading to a pew
that was reserved for two other church members, according to prosecutors.
A Montgomery County man who opened fire on another
worshipper in a packed church during Sunday service has been charged with
manslaughter.
Mark T. Storms, 46, of Lansdale, Pennsylvania, was charged
Thursday with voluntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment in the death of
27-year-old Robert E. Braxton III.
Storms shot Braxton inside Keystone Fellowship Church, a
non-denominational church on Stump Road in North Wales, on Sunday morning,
prosecutors said. The shooting happened in the church's sanctuary, which was
filled with hundreds of worshippers for an 11 a.m. service. Witnesses told
NBC10 churchgoers hid under pews as the altercation played out.
Witnesses remember Braxton arriving at church irritated and
cursing at an usher in the back of the church, court documents show. Church
staff members tried to quiet Braxton, but he refused before heading to a pew
that was reserved for two other church members, according to prosecutors.
A church member sitting behind Braxton tapped him on the
shoulder to let him know the seats were reserved. Another couple put down two
Bibles to save their spots before walking away. Braxton retorted the tap and
starting yelling "Don't f------ touch me!" an affidavit reads.
An assistant pastor and ushers came over to try and calm
Braxton, but he continued to yell, records show.
In interviews with police, witnesses watched Storms walk
over to Braxton, show him a badge and motion to a handgun under his shirt. The
badge, police said, was for his concealed carry permit. Braxton exchanged words
with Storms before punching him in the jaw. Storms then pulled out his gun and
fired two shots, according to witnesses.
What church members remember between Storms showing the
badge and the shooting varied.
Top News Photos of the Week[NATL] Top News Photos of the
Week
A female witness told police Braxton said "F--- you and
your fake badge, get the f--- out of here" to Storms when he showed off
the gold marker.
Another church member, a man, told investigators Storms
brandished his gun, to which, Braxton replied, "That's not a real gun."
One person said Braxton lunged at Storms before the
shooting. Another recalled hearing Braxton ask Storms "What are you going
to do, shoot me?" before punching him, court documents show.
Storms, in an interview with police, said he opened fire on
Braxton because he felt his "person was in great danger" and that he
was worried other people in the church, including the elderly and children,
were going to be hurt.
Storms told police he showed off the concealed carry badge
with hopes of defusing the situation. He said, according to court documents, he
had done that in the past and that man "walked away."
Following the shooting, Braxton was taken to
Abington-Lansdale Hospital where he died. An autopsy showed a bullet hit him in
the right side of his chest and right arm.
Kevin Steele, Montgomery County district attorney, said his
office decided to file charges after an intensive investigation and interviews
with 50 witnesses.
Storms will be arraigned Thursday afternoon. It's not clear
if he has retained an attorney.
No comments :
Post a Comment