MEGA CHURCH PASTOR BEATEN TO DEATH INSIDE CHURCH

Fort Worth-area authorities have released the name of the man who died in police custody after ramming his car into a church wall and then fatally beating the pastor.

The motive for the attack on Rev. Danny Kirk Sr. of Greater Sweethome Missionary Baptist Church is still under investigation, Forest Hill police said. 33 year old Derrick Anthony Birdow, died Monday after being found unresponsive in the back of a patrol car, the Forest Hill Police Department said in a release Tuesday.

Forest Hill officers arrived at the church to find Birdow assaulting Kirk with an electric guitar, Police Chief Dan Dennis said. Kirk, 53, was pronounced dead at the church.

The North Texas congregation is still reeling after Birdow rammed a car into a church wall, chased the pastor, and beat him to death with an electric guitar Monday.

Police told reporters they didn’t know why Birdow attacked Rev. Danny Kirk Sr., founding pastor of the Greater Sweethome MIssionary Baptist Church. In a harrowing 911 call an unidentified church secretary said that some staff tried to fight him off but that Kirk was in desperate need of an ambulance.

‘My pastor’s bleeding, he’s been attacked,’ the worker tells dispatchers while locked in her office.’I'm not going out there. I need real help fast. Send policeman. I do need an ambulance also.’

‘Does your pastor know him?’ the dispatcher asked. ‘I have no idea.’

Birdow rammed his car into the church just before noon then began attacking Kirk in the parking lot before chasing him into the church, according to Forest Hill Police Chief Dan Dennis. When police arrived they found the suspect striking Kirk with an electric guitar they believe was already in the church. When police arrived they had to use a Taser to subdue Birdow, they handcuffed him, and locked him in their patrol car.

Sadly it was too late for Kirk who had already died. A maintenance worker who tried to help Kirk was also injured and taken to an area hospital but his condition is unknown. Birdow was found unresponsive shortly after being taken into custody and was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Dennis told reporters police did not yet know if Birdow knew Kirk, attended the church, or what his motives were for attacking the pastor.

For hours after the shocking attack hundreds gathered outside the church, gathering around the crime-scene tape wrapped around a small statue of Jesus near the wrecked car.

Many mourned Kirk as a dedicated minister with a cheerful personality who knew the names of each of his hundreds of church members.

‘He really was concerned about our souls,’ recalled Montoya McNeil, a member for eight years. ‘You looked forward to being here… I’m not asking God why, because I know where he is, but we won’t get those big bear hugs and those great sermons anymore.’

Kirk started the congregation years ago in a strip mall before growing the ranks so large he needed to build a red-brick church. He was also an unofficial volunteer chaplain who occasionally counseled members of the local high school football team. ‘Our hearts are heavy right now,’ said Reginald Wilson, an associate minister at the church.

SOURCE: NBC