A Sunday service at Eden Church's downtown campus turned chaotic on March 15 when congregants and church security stopped a man who investigators say reached for a pistol in the middle of worship. Authorities report he was carrying a loaded handgun and a backpack holding roughly 100 rounds of ammunition. The congregation restrained him until officers arrived, and he was arrested and charged in connection with the incident.
According to FOX 26 Houston, Harris County court records identify the suspect as 23-year-old Emmanuel Ahsono Mbwavi and show he was taken into custody after the service. Court documents reviewed by FOX 26 say investigators initially charged him with unlawfully carrying a weapon, then upgraded the case to two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after examining surveillance video. FOX 26 reports that the details come from Harris County court records.
Court documents obtained by ABC13 say church security had already been keeping an eye on Mbwavi after an earlier incident in which he passed out while handing out flyers. ABC13 reports the records allege he later returned armed, tried to detonate a bomb from his phone and told worshippers, "I'm going to kill the pastor who is a fake prophet. I am a prophet called Warlock."
How He Was Stopped
According to FOX 26 Houston, a member of the church security team tackled Mbwavi when the hammer on his pistol snagged on his clothing as he reached for it, giving security and worshippers a split second to act. Congregants then helped hold him down until police arrived. FOX 26 reports the .22-caliber revolver was loaded with six live rounds, and roughly 100 more rounds were found in his backpack. Eden Church meets at POST Houston's Z Atrium at 401 Franklin Street, according to the POST Houston site.
Charges And Church Response
Court documents show Mbwavi faces two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to reporting by ABC13. Eden Church told ABC13 it is cooperating fully with investigators, and a volunteer security leader described the ordeal as "really scary" for those in the congregation.
Context
The arrest lands amid heightened anxiety over safety at houses of worship, following a deadly 2024 attack at Lakewood Church that renewed scrutiny of security practices at large congregations, as reported by AP News. Local churches and their volunteer security teams say they continue to reassess screening, training and emergency plans in light of such incidents.
Harris County prosecutors and Houston police have not yet released details on an upcoming court date or bond information. The investigation remains active, and authorities say they are pursuing leads based on evidence collected at the scene. This story will be updated as more public records and official statements become available.
