A man identified as Joshua James Sommers attacked a priest during a novena prayer service at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes in Spokane, Washington. Security footage captured the incident, showing Sommers rushing towards the altar and attempting to strike Rev. David Gaines. Other church members and staff intervened, and Sommers was arrested on misdemeanor assault charges.
A shocking incident unfolded during a prayer service at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes in downtown Spokane , Washington, on Tuesday night. Around 350 to 400 people had gathered for the second night of novena, a tradition of nine days or nine weeks of prayer, when Joshua James Sommers allegedly attacked Rev. David Gaines, the priest leading the service. Security camera footage captured the disturbing moment Sommers left his pew and rushed towards the altar, attempting to strike Rev.
Gaines in the face. Rev. Gaines skillfully managed to restrain Sommers while other church staff and members quickly came to assist. The assailant, identified as Sommers, reportedly screamed during the incident, while Rev. Gaines calmly said, 'It's OK, just calm down.' Security guards swiftly responded, and the Spokane Police Department was immediately notified. Rev. Gaines sustained no injuries during the attack. Father Darrin Connall, who was kneeling at the altar when the attack occurred, described the incident as the most serious the church had ever witnessed. 'All of us were pretty shaken,' Connall said. 'You don't expect to see something like that when you're gathering together to pray and worship.' Following Sommers' removal by police, Connall informed ABC News that the entire congregation paused the service and prayed for the assailant. 'Whatever demons he was struggling with needed to be healed,' Connall stated. Sommers was arrested on misdemeanor assault charges and his previous history of violence came to light. In 2023, Sommers was charged with third-degree assault after attacking an employee at a mental health facility where he was a patient. Court documents reveal that Sommers allegedly punched the employee multiple times and stole their keys in an attempt to escape. Sommers appeared in court on Wednesday facing assault charges and an outstanding warrant from his previous assault. He is scheduled to return to court later this month and remains in custody
ASSAULT CHURCH CRIME SPOKANE WASHINGTON PRIEST PRAYER SERVICE
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