2018 Shooting, Bethlehem Star Missionary Baptist Church

Lessons Learned from a Church Shooting

An article based on "Active Shooter Response," a Safety Member Certification training module, and relating to the Sheepdog Sentinel article "Lessons Learned from the Bethlehem Star Church Shooting."[1][2][3]

From the Bible

* Robbers usually ambush their victims:

... and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such aslay in waitby the way (Ezra 8:31b).

If they say, Come with us,let us lay waitfor blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause (Proverbs 1:11).

* An attack by a criminal mob:

... the men of the city, certain sons of Belial,beset the house round about, and beat at the door (Judges 19:22b).

* Revenge is often the motive for a deadly-force attack:

And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died,for the blood of Asahel his brother(2 Samuel 3:27).

Introduction

Not all deadly-force attacks at churches are inside the building. Some are outside on the steps,[4] in the parking lot or driveway,[5][6][7] elsewhere on the grounds, or on the sidewalk or street.[8] What this means for church safety and security is that we need to be ready for any scenario in any location. This includes both prevention and mitigation.

As Mourners Leave -

* Note: Names are abbreviated since even the victims in this incident were members of criminal gangs.

In several major cities there are rappers who are members of urban gangs. Called "drill rappers," they do not hold live concerts, but broadcast their songs on social media, such as Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. One Chicago gang drill rapper (DTM) who jabbed members of rival gangs in his lyrics earned their ire. A rival gang retaliated for DTM's insults. He was shot and killed.

Since he had family who were members of Bethlehem Star Missionary Baptist Church in the Burnside section of Chicago, that's where his funeral was held on October 22, 2018, the Monday after his death. The funeral ended sometime between 12 noon and 12:30, and attendees began to leave. When members of DTM's band got to the sidewalk, masked men waiting on the street pulled out guns and began shooting. According to witnesses, members of DTM's gang began shooting back. The attackers jumped into waiting cars and left. Six people were wounded, including F-W, a member of DTM's band who was also hated by rival gangs for his drill raps. He was shot in the head and taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Culture of Violence –

Restraint when offended is not a virtue of these gangs. Any offense may be answered with violence, whether by beating, or by stabbing/slashing, or by shooting. And every act of violence invites reprisal.

This culture of violence has been prevalent in this area of Chicago for a long time. Not long before the Bethlehem Star funeral shooting, three students were shot on the sidewalk close to a nearby school, and in a previous year a gang member was ambushed and killed arriving for the funeral of another member of his gang at another church. At the time of the Bethlehem Star shooting, Chicago was forming a task force to deal with funeral violence.

The role of the culture of violence in the Bethlehem Star shooting is highlighted by the record of the suspected intended target. At age 11, F-W was an eyewitness to an altercation which ended in a killing. Ten years later, age 21, in June 2018, he was the alleged shooter in an assault. The handgun used was identified by forensics as the one used in a drive-by murder a month earlier (note that these firearms get passed around in the gangs). The common supposition is that he was the intended target because of one or more previous shootings.

What all this tells us is that the community's social climate has a bearing on a church's vulnerability.

What Follows?

A shooting two days later wounded five men in a nearby neighborhood on Wednesday evening. While standing on the sidewalk in front of a home, some men walked up, fired their guns, and fled in a waiting vehicle. This attack was suspected to be related to the Bethlehem Star shooting, where five persons opened fire at the assailants. One theory is that these may have been the same shooters who initiated the Bethlehem Star shooting.

Police were having trouble investigating these cases, because even victims refused to cooperate. As one neighbor said, asking that what he told a reporter would be anonymous, "I still have to live here."

On Friday of that week, law enforcement agencies announced that 23 persons were charged with crimes from years before. Among the alleged crimes were at least ten murders. Some of the arrested gang members are suspected of being involved in some way in the Bethlehem Star attack, as either instigators or shooters. In 2023, three of the alleged gang leaders who were arrested were convicted of racketeering and violence to aid racketeering.

F-W survived, and celebrated his 27th birthday in 2024, but there is no indication that he had reformed.

Gang violence continues to be the norm on the south side of Chicago.

Lesson Learned –

We already know standard security measures for the church:

• Have a vetted and trained safety & security team.
• Have and monitor surveillance cameras.
• Patrol the premises.
• Lock unattended entries.
• Critically observe all persons entering the church.
• De-escalate developing disruptions, etc.

The problem here is how to protect funeral attendees as they go out onto the sidewalk and street.

Consider the Community Social Climate in Security Planning and event security. These notes are site-specific, but can be considered for other urban churches.[9][10]

• Keep up-to-date on the social climate of the location of the church and of the community it serves.
• For instance, members of Bethlehem Star MBC had close relatives who were gang members involved in violence and in provoking violence.
• Since the funeral was for a member of a violent gang, other gang members would be expected to attend, and rival gangs would know when and where to find their targets.
• Cultivate a relationship with local law enforcement (in a large city like Chicago, this includes the precinct level.
• The church safety director can be warned of threats to the church, its staff, or its members.
• Police can advise and assist in planning and implementing protection for events.
• The church can share with the police its safety concerns.
• Plan increased security for high-risk events, for example a gang member's funeral. This includes outside the church itself.
• Increase site security.
• Since at least 2007, Bethlehem Star MBC has had a fence with lockable gates around its large parking lot.
• Since 2011, this is a wrought iron fence.
• However, the church's doors open onto the sidewalk in front and to the alley in the rear. There is no exit directly into the parking lot. It would be easier to protect people exiting the church if there were.
• Recommendation, install an exit into the parking lot.
• For a very high-risk event, ask the city to close the block of the street in front of the church from just before the funeral until the attendees have left.
• Since the church is on a main thoroughfare, this might not be authorized unless there was an acceptable detour. By the way, there are apartment buildings north of the church on the same block and two other churches on the other side of the street to the south.
• At least ask for increased police presence during the funeral, especially when people are leaving.
• Monitor all activity on the street before, during, and after the funeral.
• Take note of any vehicles or persons loitering, who may appear to be waiting for someone to leave.
• Have and monitor exterior security cameras before, during, and after the event.
• Bethlehem Star MBC has two upper story windows on the front (overlooking the street) and one on the south side (overlooking the parking lot) which can be used by security for in-person surveillance.
• Equip the watchers with radios for communication with safety team members and police.

For any high-risk event, have members present who are trained in mass trauma response. Train and drill the safety team in carrying out these measures. Include drive-by shootings in your drills. Rachel Moloney has an outline for one in her article "Lessons Learned from the Bethlehem Star Church Shooting."[3]

Explain to church members the security measures that are being taken. Let them know it's for their own safety.

Conclusion –

Plan security measures for high-risk events.

Training Resource –

The Safety Member Certification training module "Active Shooter Response" is one of eight classes created to train and certify safety team members in making the church a safer, more secure place. Enroll all safety team members in this course. Certification is for two years. Recertification will update the training.

How can you prepare your response to a variety of situations? Visualize different emergencies and mentally rehearse your response. We have a free digital download toe help you with this, the Emergency Response Visualization Guide. Download it today. Click *HERE* to get it.[11]

References –

Sheepdog Church Security Resources:

1. Kris Moloney, "Active Shooter Response," Safety Member Certification, Sheepdog Church Security, © 2020 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/bundles/safety-member-certification].
2. Kris Moloney, Rachel Moloney, Wesley G. Vaughn, Terry Berringer, et al., Sheepdog Articles, The Sheepdog Sentinel, Sheepdog Church Security, Since January 1, 2023 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/pages/security-articles].
3. Rachel M. Moloney, "Lessons Learned from the Bethlehem Star Church Shooting," Lesson Learned, Sheepdog Articles, The Sheepdog Sentinel, November 6, 2024 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/pages/security-articles?p=lessons-learned-from-the-bethlehem-star-church-shooting].
4. WGV, "2020 Shooting, Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine," Sheepdog Church Security, August 28, 2024 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/pages/security-articles?p=2020-shooting-cathedral-church-of-saint-john-the-divine].
5. WGV, "2017 St. Alphonsus Church Shooting," Sheepdog Church Security, August 2, 2022 [https://sheepdogchurchsecurity.net/articles/2017-st-alphonsus-church-shooting/].
6. Rachel Moloney, "Lessons Learned from the Burnett Chapel Church Shooting," Lesson Learned, Sheepdog Sentinel, October 2nd, 2024 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/pages/security-articles?p=lessons-learned-from-the-burnett-chapel-church-shooting].
7. WGV, "2012 Victory for the World Church Shooting," Sheepdog Church Security, February 28, 2023 [https://sheepdogchurchsecurity.net/articles/2012-victory-for-the-world-church-shooting/].
8. WGV, "2022 Tulsa Cathedral Stabbing and Arson Attempt," Sheepdog Church Security, December 5, 2022 [https://sheepdogchurchsecurity.net/articles/tulsa-cathedral-stabbing-and-arson-attempt/].
9. WGV, "The Community Climate - Part 1," Sheepdog Church Security, October 30, 2023 [https://sheepdogchurchsecurity.net/articles/the-community-climate-part01/].
10. WGV, "The Community Climate - Part 2," Sheepdog Church Security, November 7, 2023 [https://sheepdogchurchsecurity.net/articles/the-community-climate-part02/].
11. Kris Moloney, "Emergency Response Visualization Guide," Sheepdog Church Security Academy, © 2024 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/products/digital_downloads/emergency-response-visualization-guide].

News Accounts:

1. Frank Main, Sam Charles, Adam Thorp and Luke Wilusz, "6 people shot outside Burnside church after funeral service for rapper," Chicago Sun-Times, October 22, 2018 [https://chicago.suntimes.com/2018/10/22/18409073/6-people-shot-outside-burnside-church-after-funeral-service-for-rapper].
2. Chicago Sun-Times writers (with additional details), "6 people shot outside funeral service for Chicago rapper," Fox 32, October 22, 2018 [https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/6-people-shot-outside-funeral-service-for-chicago-rapper].
3. Mitchell Armentrout, "Mass shooting outside Burnside church leaves community searching for answers," Chicago Sun-Times, October 23, 2018 [https://chicago.suntimes.com/2018/10/23/18432295/mass-shooting-outside-burnside-church-leaves-community-searching-for-answers].
4. Mo Barnes, "Chicago funeral shootout, rapper FBG Wooski in critical condition (video)," Rollingout, October 25, 2018 [https://rollingout.com/2018/10/25/chicago-funeral-shootout-rapper-fbg-wooski-in-critical-condition-video/].
5. David Struett, "1 dead, 1 wounded in Englewood shooting," Chicago Sun-Times, May 26, 2018 [https://chicago.suntimes.com/2018/5/26/18401494/1-dead-1-wounded-in-englewood-shooting].
6. By Associated Press, "Police try to prevent retaliation after Chicago rapper shot," Star-Advertiser, October 23, 2018 [https://www.staradvertiser.com/2018/10/23/news/police-try-to-prevent-retaliation-after-chicago-rapper-shot/].
7. Justices Taylor, McBride, and Palmer, "The People of the State of Illinois V. Kiearre Reese," Appellate Court of Illinois, First Judicial District, March 21, 2014 [https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/Resources/76b9229d-5971-4d95-abee-ccfdd58ffb8e/1113003_R23.pdf].
8. William Lee, "‘High probability' that two mass shootings in Chicago this week are related," Chicago Tribune, Oct 26, 2018, updated May 23, 2019 [https://www.chicagotribune.com/2018/10/26/high-probability-that-two-mass-shootings-in-chicago-this-week-are-related/].
9. Leah Simpson and Megan Sheets, Daily Mail, October 26, 2018 [https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6321879/Chicago-23-charged-connection-killings-cops-state-high-probability-crimes-related.html].
10. United States District Attorney, "Chicago Street Gang Leaders Convicted on Federal Racketeering Charges," United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois, July 10, 2023 [https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/chicago-street-gang-leaders-convicted-federal-racketeering-charges].