Last month, Christin Kinman of Allegion wrote about a successful conference on building safer schools, led by Allegion.  Today she shares information about another upcoming event:

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Allegion is proud to be partnering with the Conference for Catholic Facility Management (CCFM) to sponsor the Sacred Spaces, Secured Futures Houses of Worship Security Event September 25, 2025 at the Live! Casino, Philadelphia.  This training will leverage experts in securing Houses of Worship and non-public schools and is open to anyone thinking about how to protect sacred spaces.

This event promises to bring concrete, actionable strategies that participants will be able to execute on in their faith-based community.  And, a ticket to the Phillies game is included as part of registration.  I’m told they are the hottest team in baseball right now…

To register:  https://www.smartchurchsolutions.com/upcoming-events/house-of-worship-philly-security-summit/

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From conference speaker, Simon Osamoh of Kingswood Security:

On November 5, 2017, a lone gunman entered First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, and opened fire during a Sunday morning service. Twenty-six people were killed, including children, and 20 others were wounded. It remains the deadliest church shooting in U.S. history.

You’ll notice that I don’t name the attacker. That’s intentional. Research has shown that one of the motivators for mass violence is a desire for recognition and infamy. By withholding names, we deny these individuals the notoriety they crave and instead focus our attention on the victims, the survivors, and the lessons we can learn to prevent future tragedies.

Background of the Assailant

The assailant grew up outside San Antonio. From an early age, signs of instability were present. He was described as socially awkward and often isolated. In high school, he was unpopular, had disciplinary problems, and failed to build meaningful connections.

As an adult, his life was marked by domestic violence and instability. During his first marriage, he assaulted his wife and stepson, fracturing the child’s skull. For this, he was court-martialed by the U.S. Air Force, sentenced to 12 months in confinement, and discharged. He also attempted to escape a mental health facility and had previously made death threats to his military superiors.

After his release, further domestic violence allegations emerged. He was investigated for sexual assault, pleaded guilty to animal cruelty, and continued a pattern of violence in his second marriage. Neighbors later recalled hearing daily gunfire on his property in the week before the church attack.

Pathway to Violence

The Sutherland Springs shooting follows a well-documented pattern often referred to as the violence attack cycle:

• Identification of the target: His primary grievance centered on his mother-in-law, who attended First Baptist.
• Surveillance: A week before the shooting, he attended the church’s fall festival dressed in black, raising concerns among attendees.
• Planning: He stockpiled firearms, sent threatening text messages, and fixated on violent ideation, including admiration for past mass shooters.
• Rehearsal: Neighbors reported extensive target practice in the days leading up to the incident.
• Execution: On November 5, he carried out his plan, entering the church armed with an assault-style rifle.

Missed Intervention Points

This case reveals multiple opportunities for disruption:

• Criminal History: Domestic violence convictions should have legally prevented him from purchasing firearms, but reporting failures allowed him to pass background checks.
• Mental Health: His escape from a behavioral health facility and ongoing threats signaled significant risk factors.
• Leakage of Intent: He expressed an obsession with mass murderers and made comments about committing mass violence.
• Pre-Attack Behavior: Suspicious conduct at the church fall festival and repeated target practice in his backyard were warning signs.

Each of these points represented a chance for systems or individuals to intervene.

Lessons for Churches

While many of the failures in this case were systemic, churches can still learn critical lessons:

• Recognize patterns, not just threats: The question is not only “Did this person make a threat?” but “Does this situation pose a threat?”
• Take leakage seriously: Statements glorifying violence, joking about mass shootings, or threatening behavior should never be dismissed.
• Empower community awareness: Encourage congregants to report concerning behavior, whether at church or within the community.
• Strengthen partnerships: Build strong relationships with law enforcement and mental health providers to create pathways for early intervention.

The Sutherland Springs tragedy illustrates that mass violence rarely occurs without warning. The assailant’s life was marked by trauma, abuse, criminal behavior, and repeated signals of escalating danger. At each stage, there were opportunities for disruption.

For churches, the lesson is sobering but clear: awareness, early recognition, and decisive action can make the difference between prevention and tragedy. By studying these cases, we honor the victims not only with remembrance but with preparation for the future.

Simon Osamoh serves as the editor of Worship Security and is nationally recognized for his work in safeguarding houses of worship. He began his career in England, spending 14 years as a detective specializing in serious and organized crime before leading Counter Terrorism at the Mall of America in Minnesota. Simon founded Kingswood Security Consulting and the Worship Security Academy, providing security solutions to houses of worship and nonprofits. He is the author of three Amazon bestselling books and the host of the Church Security Accelerator Podcast.

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