A quick-witted Tennessee pastor arrested a man who pulled out a gun during a church service on Sunday.
Dezire Baganda, 26, was sitting at the front of the Sunday service at the Nashville Light Mission Pentecostal Church when he suddenly pulled out a gun and walked to the altar, where the pastor was praying with several members, according to the Nashville Metropolitan Police Department. .
He waved the gun, told everyone to stand up and “pointed the handgun at the congregation,” police said.
Heartbreaking surveillance video of the incident appears to show the suspect waving gun in the face of worshipers. The pastor attacked the suspect from behind and brought him to the ground, according to the footage.
Some shocked congregants ran out of the church upon seeing the pastor take action. Others helped disarm Baganda before shots were fired and kept him pinned to the ground until officers arrived on the scene, police said.
Baganda was not a member of the church, but the pastor said he had attended services before, according to police.
Baganda was charged Sunday with 15 counts of aggravated assault. More charges are expected to be added this week, police said.
Authorities hailed the pastor’s actions as “heroic”, saying he had saved the church from further violence.