A Christmas Eve candlelight service at Lakewood Church in Houston was interrupted by a bomb threat, which authorities later determined to be fake. More than 5,000 people were worshiping at Pastor Joel Osteen’s megachurch Tuesday evening (Dec. 24) when a man threatened to “blow up the church.”
The suspect, later identified as 33-year-old Aaron Suppes, called police to say he was planning to attack Lakewood using sarin nerve gas. Soon after authorities arrived at the church, they located and arrested Suppes.
Police were able to use security camera footage to find the suspect. They also connected him to another suspicious call that had been placed earlier in the day.
Bomb Threat at Lakewood Church Was Fake
When members of Houston’s police and fire departments arrived at Lakewood Tuesday evening, they briefed the church’s security team about the situation. Bomb experts and a hazmat team examined duffel bags that Suppes allegedly brought to Lakewood. The bags, left at the church’s entrance, contained some clothes and electronic devices but no dangerous materials.
On Christmas Day, Suppes appeared in probable cause court, where he argued with an officer. He was charged with third-degree felony terroristic threat, and his bond was set for $15,000. According to court documents, Suppes is unemployed and has been unhoused for at least six months.
In court on Dec. 25, the judge said, “Defendant called the FBI tip line and said he would go to release sarin gas at Lakewood Church, defendant was located at Lakewood Church and had left his bags at the door.”
A police spokesperson told reporters that Suppes called to say “that him and his sister were being microwaved from overseas, whatever that means, so obviously having some mental issues.”
KHOU news reported that Suppes has a criminal history in Colorado but no previous charges in Harris County, Texas. The suspect is due back in court in January.
Lakewood Church Had a Shooting Earlier This Year
As ChurchLeaders reported, in February a woman opened fire inside Lakewood Church during a Spanish-language service. She said she had a bomb, but officials later determined that threat to be false.
During that incident, the suspect—wearing a trench coat and a backpack—shot and wounded a 7-year-old boy and a 57-year-old man with a long rifle. Two off-duty officers who were serving on Lakewood’s security team returned fire, leaving the suspect dead.
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