Worshipers prevented a 16-year-old suspect armed with a rifle from entering a church full of children during a livestreamed service, Louisiana authorities say.
The boy attempted to enter St Mary Magdalene Church, Abbeville, through the back door at around 10.30am on Saturday (4.30pm UK time), according to police.
A live broadcast of the incident seen by Sky News partner NBC News showed a man approaching the Rev. Nicholas DuPre after 48 minutes to whisper something.
Rev. DuPre then stopped the service and asked parishioners to pray with him, while some people could be heard panicking and screaming.
About 60 children were inside waiting to take their first Communion when worshipers confronted the armed suspect.
He Louisiana The Catholic church said they then removed him before calling the police.
In the live broadcast, police officers could be seen walking through the church, as children ran down the altar and clergy took cover, NBC News reported.
Someone was heard saying over a loudspeaker: “Guys, contact your children, go slowly. We have detained a child, he is in custody.”
In a statement, the Abbeville Police Department said that upon arrival, officers arrested the suspect and then searched the church.
The force added that the teenager was charged with terrorizing the church and two counts of possession of a firearm by a minor.
Witnesses told television station KADN that he was dressed all in black and armed with the rifle, NBC News reported.
Police Chief Mike Hardy thanked parishioners who intervened for their “quick response and for remaining calm throughout this entire matter.”
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The church also said it now plans to have uniformed police officers outside its masses “out of an abundance of caution.”
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