Court docs: Suffolk bishop goes ‘war mode’ in defense, prior to church shooting

SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A man was arrested following a shooting at a Suffolk church that left the church’s bishop injured.

At approximately 12:15 p.m. on Sunday, the Suffolk Emergency Communication Center received a call for gunshots fired in the 6300 block of Whaleyville Boulevard at the Divine Church of Deliverance and Transformation Holiness, police said.

According to court documents, 24-year-old Tremonte Smith entered the church in the middle of a service and walked up to the side stage, where Bishop Brian Outlaw and seven other church members were.

Smith could be seen on surveillance video approaching Outlaw and leaning into him before a struggle ensued. During the struggle, a single gunshot was heard.

Following the gunshot, Smith was tackled to the ground by security at the church. Security then took a Taurus G3 firearm from Smith’s possession, the documents state.

Outlaw told police he went into “war mode” after noticing Smith pointing a gun to his stomach, stating that he grabbed the gun and attempted to push it away before it discharged near his feet, minorly injuring his hand, the documents state.

Smith told police a similar version of events, but stated he did not intend to harm anyone during the incident. He told police he knew the gun was loaded, that he is trained to use firearms, and that he “knows what happens when someone gets shot.”

Smith was detained in the church by the congregation until Suffolk Police arrived. Upon arrival, officers took him into custody regarding the incident.

Smith was then charged with second-degree attempted murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and discharging a firearm in an occupied building.

No other injuries were reported.