A 24-year-old man was arrested in Marion County, Florida after allegedly crashing his minivan into a church and then setting fire to the building, claiming to be on a ‘mission’.
According to Florida police, Steven Anthony Shields ‘intentionally crashed’ his minivan into the foyer of a Catholic church in Marion County, doused the foyer with petrol and set it alight.
Several people were in the church at the time, attending an early morning service. All escaped unharmed. The fire was soon extinguished, but the building was damaged.
Local police captured Shields after he fled the church and, according to a Daily News report, he was charged with attempted 2nd degree murder, one count of arson to structure, one count of burglary of an occupied structure and one count of felony fleeing or attempting to elude capture.
Shields later told the police that he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was not taking his medication at the time of the incident.
After his arrest, Shields referred to himself as ‘the king’ and that he was on a ’mission’.
Local Sheriff Billy Woods said the freedom to worship would always be protected by his department.
Shields is awaiting trial.