A 23-year-old man was arrested after a security guard at a downtown Houston church tackled him as he allegedly tried to pull out a loaded gun during a Sunday service. According to Houston police, Emmanuel Ahsono Mbwavi entered Eden Church on Sunday (March 15) with a .22-caliber revolver loaded with six rounds and over 100 additional rounds of ammunition in his backpack.
A member of the church’s security team recognized Mbwavi from a previous incident two months earlier, when he had been asked to leave for handing out “concerning” flyers. The church’s pastor requested the security team to keep an eye on him.
According to court records cited by KTXH, Mbwavi was seen following a pastor into the bathroom multiple times before disappearing into the crowd. Another pastor approached Mbwavi, and at that moment, the security guard saw him gripping a pistol in his pocket. When Mbwavi attempted to draw the weapon, the hammer got caught on his pants, allowing the guard to tackle him. Church members assisted in holding Mbwavi until police arrived.
During the struggle, Mbwavi began counting down with his cellphone in hand, causing some to fear he might have a bomb. After being restrained, Mbwavi allegedly shouted threats, including a desire to kill the pastor, and his phone was found open to a note with specific threats against the pastor and details about his car.
Mbwavi has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and is being held on more than $250,000 bail. He is expected to appear in court on May 5. No injuries were reported among church staff or congregants. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
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