Community Chat

[jlkz]

Scary episode at Mass on Sunday; everything seems to have turned out okay.

This could have been a poor soul desperately seeking any kind of attention or, God forbid, doing a dry run.  Dressed in black with a long-sleeved shirt, pony tail, he arrived late and went to the far side of the church.  He carried a filthy, Army-type backpack that he held up in his hands and kept playing with it.  ( Too hot for long sleeves )

Everything he did, he did with the intent to have everyone observe him.  I was a few pews behind him and began to get concerned.  He then left the pew, genuflecting ( but oddly, facing the back of the church ) and left the backpack in the pew.  Restroom ?

The tall fellow in front of me appeared to be in law enforcement or security: he went up to the pew and signaled to an usher to get the backpack.  It was taken outside.  (  The tall fellow never came back:  he may have gotten police involved to question the young man after Mass. )

The young man returned to the pew and searched for the backpack.  A woman behind him told him the usher has it.  He remained in the pew.

Meanwhile, I considered fastest escape route.  I determined a suicide vest couldn't possibly be under the skin tight shirt nor were there any gun bulges.  Mass ended without further activity but it took a while for the adrenalin and heartbeat to calm down.

With the terror events in Europe and here in schools and nightclubs, who would think it possible here at church ?

We need to be on alert and report anything that doesn't seem right in our surroundings...wherever that may be.

I feel sad for that young man if he was desperately seeking attention, but were he to become radicalized.......

[Cakers3]

@jlkz  We have had attacks on churches/synagogues/mosques in this country.

Remember the shooting at the AME church in Charleston? Only 2 years ago.  Complete hatred for the innocent AA people in the church.

[jlkz]

@Cakers3

You are absolutely right: the fright I felt at church blocked it out of my mind.  

Incomprehensible that a place of worship could be so violated.

[SeaMaiden]

@jlkz  So what was in the back pack?

[Cakers3]

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@jlkz wrote:

@Cakers3

You are absolutely right: the fright I felt at church blocked it out of my mind.  

Incomprehensible that a place of worship could be so violated.

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@jlkz  It's a sad situation overall;  I'm glad all was safe in your church.  We have an upcoming concert at a major venue and I'm actually beginning to think about our safety.

I understand your fright.

[Greeneyedlady21]

Yikes. Good thing there's security. I admit I think about such things every time I go to Mass. It used to be such a safe haven. We don't have security either, not that I know of. Why did they let him stay in the pew though? Because technically he did nothing wrong or illegal...I guess?

I had an instance once in a movie theater, guy sat in front row with all kinds of other seats available. Went out emergency exit and came back in. Then his friend did. I was in back row and high tailed down all those stairs and to the lobby to tell the manager. He ran to the theater and escorted them out. I could not believe everyone else sat there. They did hear about Aurora, no? Honestly I was afraid what was going on in there after I left.

If you see something say something.

[jlkz]

@SeaMaiden

No idea....the way he held it up so we could watch him touching it over and over was chilling.  He got the attention of those close by and you could see the fear as we looked at each other as if to say " what's happening...is this for real "

[Shanus]

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@jlkz wrote:

Scary episode at Mass on Sunday; everything seems to have turned out okay.

This could have been a poor soul desperately seeking any kind of attention or, God forbid, doing a dry run.  Dressed in black with a long-sleeved shirt, pony tail, he arrived late and went to the far side of the church.  He carried a filthy, Army-type backpack that he held up in his hands and kept playing with it.  ( Too hot for long sleeves )

Everything he did, he did with the intent to have everyone observe him.  I was a few pews behind him and began to get concerned.  He then left the pew, genuflecting ( but oddly, facing the back of the church ) and left the backpack in the pew.  Restroom ?

The tall fellow in front of me appeared to be in law enforcement or security: he went up to the pew and signaled to an usher to get the backpack.  It was taken outside.  (  The tall fellow never came back:  he may have gotten police involved to question the young man after Mass. )

The young man returned to the pew and searched for the backpack.  A woman behind him told him the usher has it.  He remained in the pew.

Meanwhile, I considered fastest escape route.  I determined a suicide vest couldn't possibly be under the skin tight shirt nor were there any gun bulges.  Mass ended without further activity but it took a while for the adrenalin and heartbeat to calm down.

With the terror events in Europe and here in schools and nightclubs, who would think it possible here at church ?

We need to be on alert and report anything that doesn't seem right in our surroundings...wherever that may be.

I feel sad for that young man if he was desperately seeking attention, but were he to become radicalized.......

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@jlkz  What a frightening experience for you. I'm so happy it turned out peacefully for you & others.

It is quite important, unfortunately, to report anyone or anything that seems suspicious.

I took my little granddaughters to an animated G rated movie. Some children who were just dropped off to be picked up afterwards....mine are only 5 & 8. As the theatre darkened, I noticed an old man in ragged clothes come in alone and take a seat way up in the back row. Why would he be there w/o children to watch a cartoon? I kept an eye on him, but couldn't leave my Girls alone to report him. When the show was over, he was not making any effort to leave. I reported him to the manager and he was quietly escorted out of the theatre.

Always be aware of your surroundings and anyone suspicious for your safety and others. It's sad these days, but necessary. 

[Cakers3]

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@Greeneyedlady21 wrote:

Yikes. Good thing there's security. I admit I think about such things every time I go to Mass. It used to be such a safe haven. We don't have security either, not that I know of. Why did they let him stay in the pew though? Because technically he did nothing wrong or illegal...I guess?

I had an instance once in a movie theater, guy sat in front row with all kinds of other seats available. Went out emergency exit and came back in. Then his friend did. I was in back row and high tailed down all those stairs and to the lobby to tell the manager. He ran to the theater and escorted them out. I could not believe everyone else sat there. They did hear about Aurora, no? Honestly I was afraid what was going on in there after I left.

If you see something say something.

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@Greeneyedlady21  So did he go out to sneak in the friend?  Were there two sitting in front of you or just the one?  I'm not sure about your post.

I agree about if you see something, say something.  But let's not profile people, either.  Not saying you did; just a general comment.

[SXMGirl]

@jlkz, how frightening for you, and I am so glad that no harm was done, except, of course, to scare parishoners.  We have to be mindful and diligent no matter where we are today.  How our lives have changed!  People expect to be safe in a religious setting as well as hospitals and schools.  No more; but, thankfully, everything was taken care of in your case.