A South Florida spiritual neighborhood is devastated after its lead pastor was stabbed to dying by a homeless man he allowed to cover in a church constructing.
Police have arrested 44-year-old James Dawkins in reference to the homicide of Antwan Lenoir, 41, an armed safety guard and pastor at Westview Baptist Church in Miami, Florida.
Dawkins, the church's musician, reportedly stayed within the church constructing with Lenoir's permission.
However Lenoir known as a locksmith to alter the locks on the church. A verbal spat started between Dawkins and Lenoir and rapidly escalated.
Dawkins stabbed Lenoir a number of instances within the neck earlier than operating away, police mentioned.
When Miami-Dade firefighters arrived, they discovered Lenoir's physique within the church car parking zone and pronounced him useless on arrival.
The next day, police discovered Dawkins and took him into custody.
In response to authorities, he provided “self-serving” testimony and “it was decided to not be in step with the proof obtained in the course of the course of the investigation.”
Dawkins now faces one depend of first-degree homicide.
In the meantime, those that knew Lenoir are mourning his dying.
“He was a really good man and he would give the shirt off his again,” his cousin Yovonka Bryant informed WSVN. “He was so beneficiant and so type to so many individuals.
“It's going to be an incredible loss to this neighborhood,” mentioned Darryl Tomas, a detailed buddy of Lenoir's. “Effectively-loved, well-liked, at all times doing the perfect he can for his household, for his neighborhood.”
Gaston E. Smith, pastor of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Miami, informed native station ABC 10 that Lenoir was like a brother to him and the incident is “inexplicable.”
“One thing needed to occur, mentally, for that to occur,” Smith mentioned. “We misplaced a dynamic pastor, a dynamic chief, an exquisite father (and) an exquisite neighborhood activist. He was the man.”
Lenoir leaves behind his spouse and 4 youngsters.
“I can't even think about his spouse of 20 years. I can't think about these 4 lovely youngsters who all beloved their dad greater than life,” Smith mentioned. “This congregation beloved their pastor.
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