CLEVELAND, Ohio – St. Malachi Catholic Church in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood became a chaotic police scene Monday after authorities say three people were shot.
Cleveland Police Chief Annie Todd told reporters the shootings were not related to church functions.
Last month, however, another shooting occurred at the Catholic church on Washington Avenue that apparently was related to one of its functions, records show. The incident led to a hospitalization and charges filed against the accused gunman.
On June 25, Vincent Pickett of Cleveland was indicted by a Cuyahoga County grand jury on multiple counts of attempted murder, felonious assault and weapons charges. The 38-year-old pleaded not guilty and is jailed on a $100,000 bond. His next court date is scheduled for Tuesday.
On June 20, church employees were serving lunches, and Pickett was there to eat, according to a police report. At some point, he started arguing with a server, complaining that she wouldn’t give him the food he wanted, witnesses told police.
Pickett responded by punching the employee several times in the face, police reported. As she was being attacked, several people tried to intervene, the report said.
At that point, police say, Pickett drew a gun from his waistband and said, “This is what I do to make money!”
Pickett then fired a shot, striking a man in the abdomen area before fleeing, police said.
The victim was rushed to MetroHealth Medical Center and survived.
A witness told police that the victim was his son, that they were homeless, and that they had come to the church for lunch. He and his son were trying to intervene when Pickett attacked the lunch server, he told officers.
The lunch server told police that she knew Pickett well, and he couldn’t eat certain foods, which made him angry, according to the police report. He was aiming his gun at her when he fired, she told police.
A message was left with the church office seeking comment.
Pickett was arrested shortly after the incident.
During a press conference Monday, Todd pledged to beef up police patrols in the neighborhood.
Monday’s incident involved a shootout between at least two people, one on the street and another in a vehicle, according to police. A person of interest was taken into custody, Todd said.
The shooting took place outside near the church as volunteers were preparing a free meal for residents.
