A scary moment unfolded on Christmas Eve at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, when a man threatened to blow up the building during an event attended by more than 5,000 people. The Houston Police Department quickly jumped into action to prevent what could have been a holiday tragedy.
It all started around 7 p.m. when officers received a chilling call. A man claimed he was going to detonate a bomb with Sarin Nerve Gas, a dangerous chemical weapon, inside the church. The threat sent shockwaves through the community, as families gathered to celebrate Christmas.
Authorities immediately began working to track down the caller. They managed to identify the suspect by connecting him to an earlier, unrelated phone call made that same day. The man in question was 33-year-old Aaron Suppes, who court records show has been homeless for at least a year.
Police rushed to Lakewood Church and worked closely with the security team to ensure everyone’s safety. Not long after, they found Suppes and arrested him. He had brought duffel bags to the church, raising fears of hidden explosives. The Houston Police Department’s bomb squad and a hazmat team from the fire department carefully searched the bags, but thankfully, no bombs or harmful devices were found.
Suppes is now facing serious charges for making a terroristic threat, which is a felony. His bond has been set at $25,000.
This incident is especially unsettling, coming less than a year after a shooting at the same church left two people injured. While the quick actions of law enforcement ensured no one was harmed this time, the events serve as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and community support in the face of such threats.