Pastor and Employee Engage in Vicious Gunfight at Florida Church With 16 Children on the Premises
A Florida pastor resorted to shooting an employee from his church after the worker first opened fire on him.
The gunfight ensued around 8 a.m. Tuesday at Living Water Fellowship Church in Osceola County and included an exchange of gunfire between maintenance worker Benjamin Parangan Jr., 47, and pastor Terry Howell.
Parangan reportedly pulled out a gun and fired several shots at the pastor who returned fire with his own gun. Howell wasn't injured during the melee, but Parangan was hit and taken to Osceola Regional Medical Center where he's in stable condition.
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Around 16 children were attending daycare on the premises when the shooting happened and none of them were injured.
Several church employees were also present to witness the shooting.
"There is a child care facility on the property of the church. It was not affected in any way by the isolated incident," said Twis Lizauain of the Osceola County Sherriff's Office.
Members of Living Water Fellowship Church spoke to the local WFTV Channel 9 news outlet about the incident.
"To hear it happened here in our neighborhood, and not only my neighborhood, but my church, it's shocking," said member Robert Quintana.
The scuffle was reportedly over a meeting where Parangan would be relieved from his maintenance position at the church, according to WTVY.com.
Deputies are investigating the shooting as a case of self-defense and authorities also confirmed that charges are pending against Parangan. Both men had concealed-weapon permits, according to the sherriff's office.
Howell also issued a statement discussing the incident which was released by the sherriff's office on Tuesday.
"We are in full support of the ongoing Osceola County Sherriff's Office investigation into the traumatic incident that occurred at our church this morning. We will continue to cooperate with the investigators in every way that we can," said Howell.
"Until the investigation is complete, we will not be making any public statements. Thank you for understanding. The members of our church will continue to pray for all those involved in this morning's incident. We would ask all who read this release to do the same."
Detectives were reportedly seen serving a search warrant at the home of Parangan Tuesday night. There's no confirmation of anything being found in the house at this time. However, he has been charged with aggravated assault with intent to kill and will be booked into Osceola County jail after he's released from the hospital.
