As reported by CBN, a pastor was beaten to death in his church, Greater Sweethome Missionary Baptist Church near Fort Worth, Texas. The attacker, Derrick Birdow, 33, drove his car into the building, hitting the pastor, Rev. Danny Kirk. The man then picked up an electric guitar and began to hit the pastor with it. The church janitor, John Whitaker, attempted to intervene by hitting the intruder with a two-by-two, but the man would not be subdued.
“I hit the man upside the head and it didn’t phase him,” said Whitaker. “Then I went and got a two-by-two and hit again. He didn’t say anything. He was crazy. He was super strong. … The only thing I remember last was [the pastor] lying on that floor. That is going to be with me for the rest of my life.”
Kirk died of his injuries at the scene. Texas police tased the suspect to get him into a police car, where he later died. Officials say they haven’t yet uncovered a motive for the attack, and the investigation is ongoing.
The suspect’s brother, Glen Birdow, said he has no idea why his brother would have attacked the pastor. “I don’t even know Pastor Kirk. I’m sorry for his family and everything they’re going through, but that was not my brother … That was somebody else, and I hate that.”
