Florida man crashes car into church during mass and sets building on fire, tells detectives it was 'awesome'
OCALA, FLORIDA: A Florida man has been arrested and charged after police said he intentionally drove his vehicle into a Catholic church and then set the building on fire while parishioners were inside on July 11. Deputies from the Marion County Sheriff's Office responded to the Queen of Peace Catholic Church, located at 6455 SW State Road 200, after receiving reports of someone setting fire to the building while several were inside preparing for morning mass, according to a press release. When deputies arrived at the scene, they learned at Steven Anthony Shields, 24, had crashed his vehicle through the front doors of the church, exited the vehicle, poured gasoline into the foyer area, and then lit it on fire.
After setting the fire, he fled the building in his vehicle. Deputy Jose Gonzalez was the one who spotted Shields leaving the area and gave him chase, according to the sheriff's office. Shields fled until Gonzalez conducted a P.I.T (Precision Immobilization Technique) and disabled the 24-year-old's car in the 5900 Block of South Highway 441.
The parishioners who were inside the church when Shields set it on fire using gasoline were able to escape without injury, with Marion County Fire Rescue personnel quickly extinguishing the flames. Shields was taken into custody and charged with one count of attempted second-degree murder, evidencing prejudice, a first-degree felony; and one count of arson to a structure (where persons are normally present and which the defendant had reasonable grounds to believe to be occupied by a human being), evidencing prejudice, a felony punishable with life in prison. He was also charged with one count of burglary of an occupied structure, with intent to commit a forcible felony, with assault while armed, using a motor vehicle as an instrumentality, and causing damage to the structure in excess of $1,000, while evidencing prejudice, also a felony punishable with life in prison; and one count of felony fleeing or attempting to elude.
The Ocala Star-Banner reported that, in an interview with Detective John Lightle, Shields said he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was not taking his medications before claiming what he did was "awesome" and smiling and laughing as he was being questioned.
The 24-year-old referred to himself as "king" and said he was on a "mission." Asked of his motive, he told detectives he had problems with the Catholic Church and made references to several Bible passages. He admitted he knew what he was doing was wrong but wanted to do it anyway. Speaking about the incident, MCSO Sheriff Billy Woods thanked his deputies for acting so quickly, as well as all the other law enforcement organizations that had assisted in the investigation.
"Our freedom of worship granted in the Constitution is a freedom that we all hold dear," he said. "My deputies and I are sworn to protect that right and will always ensure our citizens can worship in peace. I’m proud of my deputies for capturing this man so quickly and we appreciate the assistance from all of the state and federal agencies that worked alongside of us during this investigation."
Shields is currently being held in the Marion County Jail without bond.