A Columbus man remained in custody this morning after authorities say he brought a handgun into a church this weekend.
The incident occurred at Shiloh Full Gospel Church. The man — who authorities declined to identify — brought a backpack with the handgun inside of it into the 19th Street South church on Sunday, according to Joe Dillon, public information officer with the city.
The gun was never removed from the backpack. No one was injured. No one was threatened, according to Dillon.
Rev. Freddie Edwards Sr. told The Dispatch this morning the man and his family are longtime, respected members of the church.
Edwards said that shortly after Sunday’s 10 a.m. service began, the church’s security team noticed the man sitting in a pew with the backpack beside him. The security team inspected the bag and discovered the handgun inside. The security team took the handgun from the man.
It was not loaded, according to Edwards.
Officers with the Columbus Police Department went notified, came to the scene and took the man into custody.
Edwards described the incident as largely uneventful.
Dillon said the man remains in custody while authorities investigate the incident.
William Browning was managing editor for The Dispatch until June 2016.
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