Police: Man Assaulted in Church Just Before Service
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WEAKLEY COUNTY, Tenn. — Police in Martin are investigating an assault that happened inside a church, where they said a man was beaten just minutes before Sunday morning service began. The pastor at Central Baptist Church still cannot believe what happened right before church started on Sunday. “Some men came in, attacked one of the church members and immediately ran out,” Pastory Kylan Mann said. He said their five-person security team was just seconds too late to catch the suspects. “They immediately got to the scene, unfortunately, it was right after they had ran. They didn’t catch them in time. They had run away,” Pastor Mann said. Police said the victim was asked to step into a classroom by four men around 10:30 am. Police say he was then attacked by Seth Hawkins, 34, as the three other watched. “Blood on carpet, blood on walls, things like that from where they had attacked him and it was very quick, but those are material things,” Pastor Mann said. Pastor Mann also said he visited his church member in the hospital after the service and reported he is in good spirits. “There is sin in what was involved but he is forgiving and he is doing well,” Mann said. The pastor said he still feels safe in the church and he believes his congregation does too. He said he believes that this will only make them stronger. “Like any other church, you can come and find problems. But you know what? You can come and find Jesus,” Mann said. Hawkins is described as a white man with blue eyes and brown hair and about 5 feet 10 inches tall. According to Pastor Mann, the victim is now recovering at home.
