It was 40 years ago today that an angry man, armed with two rifles and two handguns, rushed into the sanctuary of First Baptist Church of Daingerfield, Texas (2 hours east of Dallas). He had 400 rounds of ammo in a bag, and wore two flak jackets as well as an army helmet.
He stormed into the sanctuary at about 11:20 a.m., as the congregation was singing the offertory hymn: More About Jesus. About 350 of them were gathered.
It was supposed to be a special Sunday. The church had a new pastor, Norman Crisp. After the services, they were going to gather on the grounds and celebrate his arrival with a huge feast. “Excitement was in the air,” one of the members said.
The picture above is from the Longview, Texas newspaper the day after the tragedy. The photo is the church bulletin from the Sunday morning services of First Baptist Church of Daingerfield, Texas. The red circle highlights the blood spilt from one of the victims who was shot in the service. Click photo to enlarge
Here’s the memorial outside the front of the church. I was actually married in this church on August 23, 1977. It was three years that the tragedy occurred.
And then the day turned … dark.
The lone gunman entered the sanctuary, shouted “This is War!” - and opened fire.
A little girl seated on the back pew jumped up to see what was going on. A shot to the head ended her life.
Another stunned worshiper turned toward the gunman. He had no time to react. A shot to his stomach ended his life.
A 78-year old woman, seated next to my great grandmother, took a bullet to the back of the neck. Within seconds she was gone.
400 bullets could have caused unprecedented tragedy. Fortunately, there were at least two sheepdogs in the house.
James “Red” McDaniel and Kenneth Truitt. Only heaven knows what would have happened had these men not stepped up. McDaniel served in WW2. His wife once told me that her husband had “fought in two wars" - WW2 and then the other one: at the church on June 22, 1980.
James McDaniel (photo: left) rose from his seat and charged the killer. His wife Laverne had taken two rounds to the back.
McDaniel, his eyes "red like blood," took on the mindset of a linebacker. He charged toward the killer, wrapped him up, and drove him out the back door. The blow against the door was with such force that it came loose from its hinges.
McDaniel took a shot to the heart and soon slipped into eternity.
Right behind McDaniel was 6'6" 320 pound Kenneth Truitt. He, too, went after the killer. Unfortunately he was shot in the chest and died two hours later.
When the smoke cleared, 15 people had been shot; five of them were dead. The church was horrified. Many had initially thought it was a skit of some sort, but the presence of the blood and the screams soon revealed it was anything but that.
An 11-year old boy, Russell (photo to right), sitting near the front, had jumped up and watched the ordeal play out. He ran out the side door to get away. Once outside, he looked across the street and saw the killer lying on the ground near the fire department. He went and stood over him; recognized him as the man who had given him a dog only two weeks earlier.
Russell’s life would spiral downward after that. He later told me that when he turned 16, his mother no longer forced him to go to church. He stayed away from churches for the next 30 years. But the effect of what he had seen that day never left him. In January of 2014, he killed himself. Man - I sure do miss Russell.
This is the Longview, Texas newspaper the next day. The red circle I put there is to highlight the bloodstain on the picture, which is the church bulletin that they had at the church service that Sunday.
Our country is in a mess right now. 2020 has been a year to forget. The virus and the riots are tearing our country apart.
Such turmoil is going to bring out the worst in some people. YOU BETTER BE READY!
Police departments are under attack and cops everywhere are considering resigning. The poor and pathetic leadership of many of our nation’s leaders are opening the door to a flood of violence.
The police are not going to be able to come to your rescue. YOU HAVE TO BE READY.
91% of the time that killer comes to church, he completes his mission before he is stopped. Thus the old saying is true: when seconds count - the police are only minutes away.
YOU BETTER BE READY.
The churches will not escape this violence. Killers know that houses of worship are easy targets.
Several years ago I was privileged to work with the amazing Sondra Hicks of HeartStone Pictures in the production of a docudrama about the tragedy in Daingerfield, Texas. It is called Faith Under Fire. This movie is available to view from now until July 20 by clicking here. It will cost you 20 dollars to do so, but it is worth it. Watch the trailer below. Click here to watch it.
