Placentia police looking for a gunman on Tuesday morning, Jan. 16, detained a man inside St. Joseph Catholic Church, which was evacuated during Holy Communion for the search of the gun that hadn’t turned up.
No one was injured. Detectives were interviewing the man at the station, Sgt. Joe Connell said.
The commotion can be heard on the church’s livestream.
Around 8:20 a.m. police received a call of a possible gunshot in the 700 block of Bradford Avenue, the sergeant said. Another call came about a man seen with a possible handgun in his hand.
Officers arrived and were told that the man was last seen going into the church, Connell said. Multiple witnesses heard a gunshot, he added.
Police found a man matching the description of the man they were looking for sitting in a pew at Saint Joseph, at 717 Bradford Ave.
As the priest held up the host in one hand, a goblet in his other hand and said, “Behold lamb of God. Behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those who called to suffer…” he gets interrupted, the church video shows. Several voices can be heard in the background. One could be heard saying: “Get on ground. Get on the ground.”
A man, likely an officer, was later heard directing people to stand up. A woman said they were receiving Holy Communion.
“I’m sorry but we have somebody that was firing a firearm on the church property and they have a gun,” the man can be heard saying on the video. He tells the worshipers that officers will guide them to the parking lot.
Connell said it was officers who told people inside the church to put their hands up and ordered the man to get down on the ground.
Police evacuated the church to look for additional suspects and a gun, he said. No other person or gun was located.
After the sweep, worshipers were allowed to return to the service.
The schools at the church property, Valencia High School, Ruby Drive Elementary and Kraemer Middle School were told to shelter in place, the sergeant said.
Law enforcement direct parishioners at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Placentia on Jan. 16, 2024. (Photo by OC Hawk)
A police officer investigates an incident at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Placentia on Jan. 16, 2024. (Photo by OC Hawk)
Law enforcement investigates an incident at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Placentia on Jan. 16, 2024. (Photo by OC Hawk)
Law enforcement investigates an incident at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Placentia on Jan. 16, 2024. (Photo by OC Hawk)
Law enforcement investigates an incident at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Placentia on Jan. 16, 2024. (Photo by OC Hawk)
Fullerton police search trash cans outside of St. Joseph Catholic Church on Bradford Avenue in Placentia on Tuesday morning, Jan. 16, 2024, after police received a call of a possible gunshot in the 700 block of Bradford Avenue. The church was evacuated during Holy Communion and police searched for the gun. One person was detained. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Placentia and Fullerton police were on scene at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Bradford Avenue in Placentia on Tuesday morning, Jan. 16, 2024, after police received a call of a possible gunshot in the 700 block of Bradford Avenue. The church was evacuated during Holy Communion and police searched for the gun. One person was detained. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Placentia and Fullerton police on scene outside of St. Joseph Catholic Church on Bradford Avenue in Placentia on Tuesday morning, Jan. 16, 2024, after police received a call of a possible gunshot in the 700 block of Bradford Avenue. The church was evacuated during Holy Communion and police searched for the gun. One person was detained. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Yellow tape closes off the 700 block of Bradford Avenue in Placentia as police search the area outside of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Placentia on Tuesday morning, Jan. 16, 2024, after police received a call of a possible gunshot. The church was evacuated during Holy Communion and police searched for the gun. One person was detained. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Placentia and Fullerton police on scene at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Bradford Avenue in Placentia on Tuesday morning, Jan. 16, 2024, after police received a call of a possible gunshot in the 700 block of Bradford Avenue. The church was evacuated during Holy Communion and police searched for the gun. One person was detained. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Placentia Police Sergeant Joe Connell speaks outside of St. Joseph Catholic Church on Bradford Avenue in Placentia on Tuesday morning, Jan. 16, 2024, after police received a call of a possible gunshot in the 700 block of Bradford Avenue. The church was evacuated during Holy Communion and police searched for the gun. One person was detained. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Placentia and Fullerton police on scene outside of St. Joseph Catholic Church on Bradford Avenue in Placentia on Tuesday morning, Jan. 16, 2024, after police received a call of a possible gunshot in the 700 block of Bradford Avenue. The church was evacuated during Holy Communion and police searched for the gun. One person was detained. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
