First Communion Evacuated by Police After ‘Suspicious Person’ Enters Abbeville Church

This morning in Abbeville, Louisiana, a potentially dangerous situation unfolded at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church during a first communion service, leading to a swift evacuation and at least one reported arrest.

According to multiple eyewitness accounts, law enforcement officers intervened abruptly during the mass, instructing parishioners to “get down” and quickly evacuate the building. The congregation, including many children attending the first communion, was described as “shaken and scared” by the sudden disruption.

A source within the church told attendees that the evacuation was triggered by an alert that an individual inside the building was allegedly "armed with guns," posing a possible threat to those present—the swift action by law enforcement aimed to prevent any harm.

Abbeville Police and the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office have been contacted for further details. Early reports from witnesses at the scene indicate that one man was arrested "with firearms in his possession," although specifics about his intentions or identity remain unclear at this time.

Despite the distressing scene, no injuries were reported, and there was no ongoing threat to the community. Following the incident, the area around the church is considered safe.

A live stream of the incident was posted via KADN News 15 and can be seen here. 

As this story develops, more information may be released regarding the motives of the alleged individual in custody and the response by local law enforcement.

UPDATE:

St. Mary Magdalen Church has emailed parishioners about this morning's incident, revealing that law enforcement will be in uniform at all upcoming Masses.

Dear Parishioners,

This morning, our First Communion ceremony was interrupted when a suspicious person opened the back door. The individual was immediately confronted by parishioners, escorted outside and the police were called. The individual was quickly apprehended by Abbeville Police Department and is in their custody. Once apprehended, law enforcement entered the church to make sure there was no additional danger. This understandably caused panic.
While we realize this was a frightening experience for those in attendance, we are incredibly grateful to both parishioners and police officers for acting quickly to ensure the safety of all. Chief Mike Hardy is handling the investigation with cooperation of the Vermilion Parish Sheriff's office and assistance from the FBI. Out of an abundance of caution, we will have uniformed law enforcement at all upcoming Masses. We invite First Communicants to receive First Holy Communion at whichever Mass they choose to attend this weekend. We are grateful for all the prayers for our St. Mary Magdalen community.

We will update this post as more confirmed details become available.