LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — At least four people are dead and eight others hurt after an ex-Marine smashed a pickup into a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church in Michigan on Sunday, opened fire, and set the building ablaze.
More than 2,000 miles away in the Las Vegas Valley, church leaders say the attack is reaffirming the need for tight security.
“I would take this very seriously, this day and time,” said Joe Ward, Green Valley Baptist Church’s executive pastor.
Ward doesn’t mess around about protecting his people. Since the Texas-native moved to Las Vegas in 2022, he’s been working on a detailed security plan.
“They’re our church family, we feel like it’s our duty, our responsibility, to keep them safe,” he said.
Present day, Ward said the plan entails a “security group” made up of about 15 church members. He said many members are former-military, some members are armed.
“We actually have identifiable name tags for them, so people can say ‘that’s a security guy,’” Ward explained. “If I am having a problem or I suspect something, that’s who I need to talk to.”
On Sundays, Ward said one member is stationed at their front doors and the others are on patrol. Some are sitting strategically in the worship center, looking for suspicious activity.
He said they even have a bodyguard for their pastor, and have gotten Henderson Police involved.
“We have a visible police officer, we have a squad car, cruiser, sitting prominently where people can see it when they drive by,” Ward said.
After Sunday’s shooting, they are considering taking their well-thought-out plan a step further.
“After what happened this past week in Michigan, what happened to other churches around the country in recent weeks, we are just evaluating to make sure we can do all we can,” he said.
These detailed plans are not uncommon, according to other churches FOX5 spoke to over the phone. One member of another Las Vegas Valley church said they have a vehicle parked in front of their doors to prevent somebody from driving through them.
Following Sunday’s tragedy, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a statement saying, in part, “Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all involved.”
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