A man was taken into custody on felony charges after he threatened to detonate a bomb at Lakewood Church on Christmas Eve.
Houston Police Department officers responded to the church at around 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve. They were dispatched after receiving a call from a man who threatened to “blow up the church” with a device attached to Sarin Nerve Gas, an extremely harmful chemical weapon.
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The church was reportedly hosting an event attended by more than 5,000 people at the time the threat was made.
Authorities were quickly able to identify the suspect by connecting him to a separate call from earlier on Tuesday. It’s unclear what the first call was in regard to.
The suspect was later identified as 33-year-old Aaron Suppes. Court documents indicate that he has been homeless for at least the past year.
Officers quickly arrived at the scene and briefed the church’s security team on the situation. A short time later, Suppes was located and taken into custody.
Authorities also discovered duffel bags that Suppes had brought to the church. A bomb squad and Houston Fire Department hazmat crew examined the bags for possible bombs, but no threatening devices were found.
Suppes has been charged with making a terroristic threat, a felony. His bond has been set at $25,000.
The threat comes less than a year after two people were injured in a shooting at Lakewood Church.