News November 09, 2021
Tennessee Pastor Tackles Gunman at Church Service — WATCH!

A Tennessee pastor is being hailed as a hero after he was seen on video tackling a man who waved a gun at churchgoers during a service.
Per a statement from the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department on Sunday, suspect Dezire Baganda, 26, was sitting in the front pews at the Nashville Light Mission Pentecostal Church when he pulled out a gun and walked up to the altar where the pastor was praying with several members.
Officials say Baganda told everyone at the service to get up while he waved and pointed the weapon at the congregation.
As seen in surveillance video obtained by outlets including WZTV, a pastor — identified by a church member as Ezekiel Ndikumana, per the Nashville Tennessean — tackles Baganda from behind before any shots were fired.
HERO ALERT: Nashville Pastor tackles, disarms gunman who stormed altar during Sunday service pic.twitter.com/VYZOYFHCog
— T. Grant Benson (@GrantB911) November 8, 2021 @GrantB911
Several church members jumped in to assist and held Baganda to the ground until officers arrived at the scene.
Per an arrest affidavit obtained by the Tennessean, Baganda told police while in custody that he was Jesus and that “all churches and schools need to be shot up.”
“God was taking care of me and everyone else in the building,” witness and church member Nzojibugami Noe told the Tennessean.
The outlet says Ndikumana has led the church since 2009 after immigrating to the United States in 2007 from Burundi.
Police say Baganda was not a member of the church, though the pastor said the man had attended services before.
On Sunday, Baganda was charged with 15 counts of felony aggravated assault. MNPD says more charges are expected this week.
The Tennessean adds that Baganda remains jailed in Davidson County on a $375,000 bond, and is set to appear before a judge Wednesday. It is unclear whether he has entered a plea or has retained an attorney.