Authorities have made an arrest after a man was fatally shot inside a famed megachurch in College Park.
The shooting broke out around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at World Changers Church International, where Creflo Dollar is the Senior Pastor. The well known televangelist recently made headlines when he was arrested at his home for assaulting his daughter. The victim was sent to the hospital in critical condition but later died, police said.
The victim from the shooting at World Changers Church has been identified as Greg McDowell.
Hours later, U.S. Marshals said a suspect was taken into custody at Lenox Square’s Macy’s store.
Police said Dollar was not there but about 20 to 25 people were gathered inside the church for a bible study during the shooting. Church members said a bible study is held every Wednesday in the chapel.
“He went in, walked in calmly, opened fire inside of the church and left as calmly as he came,” Fulton County police Cpl. Kay Lester said during a news conference
She identified 52-year-old Floyd Palmer as the suspect. He is believed to have left in a black Subuaru. Lester said Palmer is a former church employee who resigned in August for personal reasons after working there for about one year. Police worked with the county SWAT team and Marshals in the manhunt for Palmer. He was captured sometime before 4:15 p.m.
The victim has been identified as Greg McDowell, a 39-year-old volunteer prayer leader at the church. Lester said he was leading a prayer when he was shot. Multiple shots were fired, but he was the only person hit.
Wednesday night services have been canceled.
“It breaks my heart, because I know that Creflo has put so much into building up his church and wanting people to be loved, and that’s all he puts out is love,” church member Kaniesha Clark told reporters.
Nearby, Bethune Elementary and McNair Middle schools were locked down for about an hour during the shooting investigation. Fulton County Schools spokeswoman Susan Hale said there were no disruptions to the schools.
The daycare at the church was evacuated and all parents were instructed to pick up their children.
Details on what caused this man to commit such a horrible act is yet to be determined. However, this is the second time a man was killed in World Changers Church International. The first was a former member and employee that was rumored to have written a tell-all book on Creflo Dollar. The former security was called to a meeting when an altercation occurred and he was shot and killed. No one was charged.
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