Church security is focus of conference at scene of Fort Worth shootings

From: WFAA News

FORT WORTH — Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth will forever be known for a night in 1999 when a gunman interrupted a prayer rally.

Seven people were killed and seven others wounded by a man shouting anti-church rhetoric who then took his own life.

So church officials are happy to host a large seminar this week on preventing violent attacks on worshipers.

"For me, I see a lot of value in this," said Wedgwood employee Jeff Laster, who was taking photos of the conference.

Laster was the first one shot in the 1999 incident. He sees value in about 500 peace officers and church workers sharing security plans and philosophies.

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Fort Worth Seminar Focuses on Church Safety

From: Star Telegram

FORT WORTH — Seven-year-old Gina Linam winked at her mother as she sat with a friend on the back pew at First Baptist Church in Daingerfield.

That would be the last gesture between Linam and her mother, Cheryl Hendrick, on the morning of June 22, 1980.

Thirty seconds later, Alvin Lee King III, 45, smashed through the back doors of the church and yelled, “This is war.”

In a hail of gunfire, Linam and four others were shot to death and several were wounded before King was subdued.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/05/03/4824101/fort-worth-seminar-focuses-on.html#storylink=cpy

Texas Pastor Beaten to Death with Electric Guitar

From: EMS1.com

FOREST HILL, Texas — A pastor in suburban Fort Worth was killed Monday by an attacker who rammed a car into a church wall, chased the pastor and beat him with an electric guitar, police said.

Forest Hill police did not say why the unidentified suspect attacked the Rev. Danny Kirk Sr., the founding pastor of Greater Sweethome Missionary Baptist Church.

The suspect, who police subdued by using a Taser, died a short time after being taken into custody.

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