Man accused of entering Texas church with a loaded tactical rifle

A 25-year-old man has been charged with a federal gun crime after prosecutors say he tried to force his way into a Texas church while armed with a tactical rifle.

Russell Alan Ragsdale was arrested on Nov. 22 and made his initial appearance Monday morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Renée Harris Toliver, according to a statement from the The US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas.

According to court documents, on November 2, 2023, at approximately 5:05 p.m., Ragsdale entered a Dallas-area church during a mass attended by approximately 100 parishioners. After attending the service, he returned to his vehicle and allegedly retrieved a gun from his trunk, according to prosecutors, who say he then closed the three gates to the parking lot.

Receive our latest news for FREE

Subscribe to receive daily/weekly email with the best stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know.

At 5:35 p.m., Ragsdale allegedly tried to reenter the church with his gun, but was denied entry because parishioners had locked the door, prosecutors said.

The investigation into the church incident also revealed what authorities believe is related to a previous shooting involving Ragsdale.

In February 2022, Ragsdale was arrested in the Dallas suburb of Seagoville for the murder of his roommate. Although the murder case was later dismissed, Ragsdale told police that his roommate attacked him and shot him “many times” in self-defense, prosecutors said.

At the time of his arrest, officers found three firearms, including a 10mm Glock and an AR-15 rifle, along with nearly two grams of hallucinogenic mushrooms. Authorities say an analysis of Ragsdale’s phone shows a history of drug use dating back to November 2021, including evidence of the purchase and use of hallucinogenic mushrooms in early 2022.

Prosecutors say the charge of unlawful possession of a firearm is based on Ragsdale’s known drug use.

If convicted, he faces 15 years in prison.

The U.S. attorney’s office did not identify the church where the incident occurred.

Under one State law 2019 After an attack on the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs that left 26 dead and 20 injured, handguns are now legal on the premises of churches and other places of worship.

In 2022, a church in New York state filed a lawsuit over a new law banning guns in places of worship, amid growing concerns about church safety.

The law firm First Liberty Institute has filed a lawsuit challenging the newly issued state rules on behalf of His Tabernacle Family Church and Pastor Michael Spencer. Senate Bill S51001which bans the carrying of firearms in “sensitive locations,” including places of worship.