4 people were stabbed during a choir performance at a New Mexico church on Sunday, and authorities say they’re not sure what the motive was yet.
24-year old Lawrence Capener jumped over rows of pews at the end of service at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church in order to get to members of the choir, then stabbed four people, who were all taken to the hospital but are expected to live. A witness said he was looking right at the lead soloist when he was running towards them.
“I just remember seeing him hurdle over the pews, hurdle over people and run (toward) us and I thought, ‘Oh my God, this is not good,“’ Baca King said.
Members of the church were able to tackle Capener and subdue him until police arrived, but not before he terrorized the entire parish. Witnesses described a scene of chaos and shock as church-goers screamed and ran from the attacker.
“This is the first time in my 30 years serving as archbishop in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and as Bishop of Lubbock, that anything like this has occurred,” Sheehan said. “I pray for all who have been harmed, their families, the parishioners and that nothing like this will ever happen again,” Archbishop Michael Sheehan said.
Authorities have not released whether or not Capener was an active member of the church or whether he was close with any of the people he injured.