SALEM, Ore. — A man burst into a church in the middle of prayer services at the Peoples Church the night of Oct. 25, dumped gasoline on a half-dozen pews and lit a fire before parishioners tackled him. Two older women were slightly burned, but churchgoers quickly doused the flames, authorities said. The man’s identity was not released.
Deputy Kevin Rau, a spokesman for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, said the incident occurred shortly after 7 p.m. at the church in Salem’s Hayesville neighborhood. The man took a cab to the church, and when he arrived, threatened the driver with a knife, slightly cutting him, police said.
The 55-year-old church draws about 2,000 worshipers. Pastor Scott Erickson said he could not explain what happened.
Share with others: