Police Share Details on Terrifying Incident at Abbeville Church, Teen Charged with Terrorizing

We are now learning new details about a scary event that unfolded at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Abbeville this Saturday. According to a follow-up report from the Acadiana Advocate, a 16-year-old armed with a rifle attempted to enter the church during a First Holy Communion service for children. The incident, captured on the church’s Facebook livestream, occurred without any injuries as parishioners swiftly subdued the intruder.

The livestream shows the moment approximately 48 minutes into the service when a man discreetly informed The Rev. Nicholas Dupre of the threat. Shortly after that, Dupre asked the congregation to sit and join him in prayer, a moment disrupted by screams from the attendees as the situation escalated.

The teen, dressed in black, was quickly tackled by parishioners and held until police arrived. Abbeville Police and Vermilion Parish Sheriff's deputies responded within minutes, finding the teen already disarmed and pinned down. The church was evacuated following the teen's claim of a possible second shooter nearby, which later proved unfounded.

Chief Mike Hardy of the Abbeville Police described the teen’s intentions as an attempt to intimidate, specifically aimed at causing disruption rather than harm.

The teen, who mentioned having a girlfriend in the congregation, allegedly planned to scare the parishioners and then flee with his girlfriend to Texas.

The suspect is now facing charges of terrorizing and possession of a firearm by a juvenile, as stated by the Vermilion Parish Sheriff's Office. Following his arrest, he was held at Abbeville General Hospital's Behavioral Unit for evaluation.

In light of the incident, Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel of the Diocese of Lafayette expressed relief that a potential tragedy was averted and announced that security measures would be heightened for all upcoming masses. He called for prayers for an end to violence against innocent lives, emphasizing the community's gratitude for the swift action of the police and parishioners.

Numerous messages and public comments reveal a community that remains shaken but thankful for the quick resolution that prevented any harm during what was meant to be a celebration of faith.

Click here for the original story and see more updated details in the full story here via the Acadiana Advocate.