On Friday, the Memphis Police Department responded to a serious threat at St. Louis Catholic Church, located on White Station Road, where Zachary Liberto allegedly threatened mass casualties among the congregation. According to a WREG report, Liberto was involved in a verbal altercation with the church's pastor and music minister, subsequent to which he is accused of defacing the church's baptismal pool.

Court documents reveal that Liberto engaged in an email exchange with one of the victims, with a message that read, "I need a video of [complainant] getting slapped by you in 24 hours before I butcher people in that church with a machete," as reported by FOX13 Memphis. Liberto, known by victims to carry a machete, which he refers to as "chete," was recorded during a phone conversation obtained by a parishioner, escalating the gravity of his threats.

"I will not f—— let people threaten and mock me all day and not go f—— do something about it… I’ll do time about it today," Liberto was heard saying in the recording, as WREG disclosed. In light of these threats, the Catholic Diocese of Memphis, through spokesperson Rick Ouellette, emphasized the priority of safety and security on the church campus, noting that authorities were notified of a potential issue immediately and that the community is praying for all involved.

As per Action News 5, both the complainant and the music director/victim indicated they were uncertain of what had sparked Liberto's email. They expressed concerns that Liberto may have an unknown mental illness. Nevertheless, swift action by law enforcement resulted in Liberto's arrest before any violence could unfold. He has been charged with Commission of Act of Terrorism and his bond is set at $200,100, with a court appearance scheduled today.