Aug 25, 2009 5:54 pm US/Eastern
Unholy Act At Liberty City Church
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
Miami Police are searching for a gunman who took part in an unholy act inside a Liberty City church. The gunman robbed eight people inside the church at gunpoint.
The robbery took place Monday night at the Jordan Grove Missionary Baptist Church located at 5942 NW 12th Avenue.
"Sad to say now we'll have to leave this on the gate at all times, so we don't go through that again," said parishioner Leroy Conyers as he pointed to a padlock that the church did not have on the gate Monday night.
Police say a gun-wielding man walked into an usher's board meeting around 9:30 p.m. and made everyone empty their pockets. There were eight church members inside when they were surprised by the hold-up.
Church members say they can't believe this would happen in a place of worship.
"I've heard of this happening at other churches, but I never thought it would happen at Jordan Grove," said Shirley Edwards. She also described the terrifying experience. "We were on the floor and we was told not to look up or anything and we just had to be obedient and keep him calm as long as we did what he said," said Edwards.
Conyers told CBS4's Jim Berry the armed robbery is a sad sign of the times.
"Times are tough; now you have some people who will do most anything, that includes robbing a church that has been a fixture here for 53 years."
Police describe the suspect as a black man, between 17-20 years old, 5'7" tall, 150 pounds, wearing gloves, blue jeans, and a white t-shirt. He hid his face with a red bandanna and used a black revolver.
Not only did the suspect steal cash, and cell phones, he also took the pastor's car; a 2005 green Lincoln Town Car with a tan vinyl top bearing Florida tag 073 IUF with white wall tires.
Detectives believe there was also a second man who was possibly outside posing as a look out.
Police are looking at surveillance video in hopes it'll lead them to the thief. However, one member of the church hopes it doesn't have to come to that and that the gunman's conscience will start talking to him.
"In this case, we hope this person turns himself in," said associate pastor Jerome Starling. "You gotta have some principles and robbing a church, you just can't do that."
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Miami Police Departments Robbery Unit at
305-603-6070 or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at
305-471-TIPS.
CBS4's Lisa Cilli contributed to this report.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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