Pastor shoots church burglar, prayed with him as he bled on the floor

oge okonkwo

July 30, 2015 4:12 PM

Pastor Holmes said he was asleep inside when the suspect kicked down the door

Benny Holmes took the law into his own hands by shooting Lee Marvin Blue Jr, 27, when he broke into the Church of New Beginnings in Baytown on Tuesday

A pastor in Texas shot and wounded a burglar who broke into his church, then got him to recite a sinner's prayer as he lay in his own blood.

Benny Holmes of the Church of New Beginnings in Baytown had taken matters into his own hands when 27-yr-old Lee Marvin Blue Jr broke in.

According to Daily Mail, Pastor Holmes said he was asleep inside when the suspect kicked down the door.

He woke up when he heard someone moving inside the church and grabbed the weapon.

'I commanded him to stop twice, and he didn't. So fearing for my life, I did what I had to do,' he told ABC 13.

After shooting him down, Holmes went over to Blue and started to talk to him.

'I led him through the sinner's prayer while he was on the floor. He repeated the sinner's prayer after me. And that was about it. I'm going to go visit him.'

Blue has an extensive criminal history dating back to 2005 - including trespassing, burglary of a vehicle, and assault.

He was taken to hospital and police believe he will survive the injuries.

When he finishes his treatment, he will face burglary charges.

Baytown police do not anticipate charges against Holmes.

Holmes also made news in 2014 for pointing a gun at a grandmother who stole parcels from his front lawn.

In September 2014, he directed his firearm at 57-yr-old grandmother Laurie Ferguson when he caught her snatching packages off his Baytown porch.

oge okonkwo