Man with weapons arrested in Fort Worth church, dead dog found outside, police say
Fort Worth police arrested a heavily armed man who they said threatened people inside a church — and where they found a dead dog outside near a community garden, according to a news release Thursday.
Church officials said Friday that the man has attended services the past few months and his actions are believed to be those of “a lone disturbed individual” and not a hate crime.
At around 11 a.m. Wednesday, police responded to All Peoples Church Unitarian Universalist, formerly known as First Jefferson Unitarian Universalist Church at 1959 Sandy Lane about a deceased dog that was found near its community garden.
When police arrived, the caller led them to the garden, where officers found a rifle with multiple bullet casings near the dog, according to the release.
At around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday officers were dispatched to the same location about a man holding a shotgun — and wearing ammo on his chest — inside the church.
When officers arrived, they entered the church to find a man standing near a firearm and immediately detained him, police said.
The man was identified by police as 27-year-old Roman Collins.
The witness who had called 911 told officers that Collins had made threatening statements about killing people.
The initial 911 call was made by a teacher who told police that there were children inside a private school at the church at the time the dog was found dead and apparently “cut open,” according to a Fort Worth police call log.
When officers searched Collins, they found several weapons including a shotgun, a large fixed-blade style knife, a handgun, several loaded magazines, medical equipment, and a water canteen, according to the release.
Officers also found Collins’ truck, which contained a rifle that had been converted to accept handgun magazines, police said.
Investigators conducted an interview with Collins. Police have not described Collins’ motive for the threats, but said based on the initial investigation, there is not evidence to support classifying it as a hate crime.
Fort Worth police’s Homeland Security Unit is leading the investigation.
Out of precaution, police requested the Fort Worth Fire Department Arson/Bomb Unit to conduct a security sweep of the church, courtyard and the suspect’s vehicle for explosive devices.
The Fort Worth Police Department’s SWAT unit later conducted a search warrant at Collins’ home with the assistance of the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Collins was booked into the Fort Worth City Jail on charges of terroristic threat, cruelty to a non-livestock animal, and carrying weapons in a place where they’re prohibited. He’s been moved to the Tarrant County Jail, with bond set at $200,000, jail records showed Friday.
The investigation is ongoing.
Last month, police in Collin County investigated a fire that was intentionally set at Community Unitarian Universalist Church of Plano when someone threw an accelerant in front of the church and lit it. No one was injured in the arson, but the church’s front doors, material directly outside the doors and a foyer were damaged.
The Plano church said it had been reviewing building security and working with police since what church officials called a “hate group” harassed members during and after a worship service on June 25. In that incident, a group of four people who post anti-LGBTQ videos on YouTube filmed themselves pranking members of the church, the Dallas Morning News reported.
According to the Unitarian Universalist Association, the church is welcoming of the LGBTQ community and its first principle is to uphold “the inherent worth and dignity of every person.”
During their initial investigation in July, Plano police said they had not established any connection between the video prank and the firebombing of the church that occurred weeks later.
There’s still no word on who set the Plano fire. A representative with Plano Fire-Rescue said the investigation is ongoing.
A representative for the Community Unitarian Universalist Church also told the Star-Telegram they never found out who set the fire.
Staff writer Abby Church contributed to this report.
This story was originally published August 24, 2023 at 6:45 PM.
