Fort Myers Adventist Church Evacuated Due to Suspicious Person Report
5 February 2024 |
The Fort Myers Adventist Church in Florida found itself at the center of police attention on Sabbath, February 3, 2024. Law enforcement showed up in response to reports of a suspicious individual who may have been armed, shutting down the church service and causing the church to be evacuated.
Upon receiving the call, Fort Myers police officers promptly arrived at the scene, detaining two individuals in the church’s parking lot. As a precautionary measure, the entire church congregation was relocated to the nearby Edison Apartments parking lot while authorities conducted a thorough safety assessment.
During the incident, which occurred during the church’s regular Saturday worship time at 11 a.m., the speaker on stage reported the situation to viewers, stating, “We’ve got a guy with a gun here, and there’s a cop it seems like, and he’s told me to get down. Are we getting swatted live on YouTube?” The speaker followed the officer’s instructions, complying with safety protocols, and the video feed was temporarily interrupted. NBC2 News shows the video happening in real time at their website here.
In a statement released by the Florida Conference, Executive Secretary (COO) Tim Goff said, “We’re extremely grateful for the immediate response of the FMPD and the protection that surrounded the building. We praise God that everyone is safe and the situation was managed quickly and professionally.”
Following the thorough assessment by law enforcement, the church was declared safe, allowing the evacuated members to return to the building. The investigation into the incident remains active, and the Fort Myers Police Department (FMPD) clarified that it was not a swatting call, as they were unable to locate anyone matching the caller’s description. In response to the incident, the Florida Conference has also offered support by providing attendees with access to free mental health counseling services, reaching out directly to anyone affected.
