A homeless suspect was arrested for allegedly threatening to kill a man and shoot parishioners in a Baldwin church on Easter Sunday, Nassau County police said.
Jose Rodriguez was charged with menacing, disruption or disturbance of a religious service, funeral, burial or memorial service, and making a terroristic threat.
First Squad detectives alleged that at 6:32 p.m. the 50-year-old suspect approached a parishioner he knew at Inglesia Despirtar Church on Grand Avenue, put his fist up to the victim’s face and stated he was going to kill him.
Rodriguez then placed his hand at his pants pocket, indicating that he had a weapon, and said out loud that he was going to come back to shoot the victim and other worshipers in the church, causing them to fear for their safety. Then he left on foot, police said.
First precinct officers apprehended Rodriguez a short distance away. No weapon was recovered. He will be arraigned Monday at First District Court in Hempstead.
