A heavily armed madman who pulled a gun on a Texas pastor during Sunday service was also feared to be detonating a bomb — while calling himself “a prophet called Warlock,” according to authorities.
Emmanuel Ahsono Mbwavi, 23, was quickly clocked entering Eden Church in downtown Houston on March 15 because he’d previously been booted for handing out “disturbing” flyers, according to a criminal complaint obtained by People, which did not elaborate on what the flyers said.
Security guard Fernando Romo later told cops he was alarmed at the suspicious visitor’s large backpack — which later turned out to hold more than 100 rounds of ammunition, authorities have said.
Romo tackled Mbwavi when he saw him pulling out a pistol during Pastor Jared Darby’s sermon — just for the gunman to start counting down and pressing on his phone, as if planning to detonate a bomb, the docs said.
“I’m gonna kill Jared, who is a fake prophet,” he allegedly shouted of the pastor. “I am a prophet called Warlock.”
When police arrived, they found Mbwavi with a 22-caliber revolver loaded with six live rounds as well as more than 100 additional rounds in his backpack, but no explosives.
A search of his phone allegedly revealed a memo with the disturbing message, “Kill Jared Darby in downstairs restroom with bag.”
It also had details about the pastor’s car, including his license plate number, according to the complaint.
Another pastor, Abraham Guajardo, told investigators Mbwavi had previously been removed from the church and denied entry earlier in the day, but returned that day.
It’s not clear exactly was written on the flyers he was distributing, but Guajardo told police Mbwavi had been asking “too many personal questions” and behaving strangely before he went for the gun, the complaint states.
Romo’s actions “saved his life and the lives of other church members,” he said.
Mbwavi is charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and is being held on a $115,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on May 5, records show.
