Man stabs paster at church; Police chief and church member take down attacker
A man walked into the Grace Covenant Church in Fairfax County Virginia on Saturday and stabbed the pastor who was teaching a Bible study class.
Fairfax County Police Chief Ed Roessler, who was at the church at the time, and another member, took down the attacker. Both of them were injured during the takedown.
WJLA reported that Chief Roessler was released from the hospital Saturday with "bumps and bruises" but wants everyone to know he is okay and wants people to instead focus on the pastor and the other individual that was seriously hurt.
The suspect was taken into custody and charged with two counts of aggravated malicious wounding, one count of felony assault on a police officer, and one count of misdemeanor assault.
Thank you Chief Roessler, and to the other member of the church, for acting so quickly and preventing many more serious injuries. You are both true heroes.
Officers responded around 3pm for a reported stabbing at Grove Covenant Church, 4600 Brookfield Corp Dr Chantilly. Preliminarily, 2 people stabbed- both non-life threatening. FCPD Chief Roessler was on-scene and helped subdue suspect who was arrested. More info to follow. #FCPD pic.twitter.com/fE1e5Xisuu
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) July 18, 2020