Richardson has been charged with one felony count of criminal threats, one felony count of possession of brass knuckles, one felony count of possession of a dirk or dagger, and one misdemeanor count of possession of a large-capacity magazine.
“The walls of our churches are not just symbols of sanctuary; they represent the most sacred places of worship and of peace,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “No one should have to worship in fear that a stranger would walk through the door with the intent to carry out their own day of judgement and determine who lives and who dies.”
“A threat on one house of worship is an attack on every place of worship, and we refuse to allow threats and terror dissuade any person from practicing their faith without fear,” Spitzer added. “Public safety is all our responsibility, and we are grateful for the quick action of the church officials and the Sheriff’s Department to prevent another tragedy from occurring.”
Richardson’s arrest came just one day after a mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis.
In an email to ChurchLeaders, St. Michael’s said that the abbey “is grateful to almighty God for His continued protection, and for the hard work and dedication of our local law enforcement.”
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This article has been updated to include a comment from St. Michael’s Abbey.
