A church family in the US state of Arizona has gathered to support their lead pastors, Allan and Gay Kendrick, after it emerged that their grandson allegedly killed his wife and four children.
Brandon Allan Kendrick II is being held at the Bibb County Jail on five counts of capital murder. According to charging documents, the 32-year-old allegedly shot his 24-year-old wife, Kelse Kendrick, in the head with a handgun. Four children were also fatally shot: his two children, niece, and nephew.
It is understood that the shooting took place at the home of Pastors Allan and Gay, in a garage apartment behind their house where the family resided. According to the MailOnline, Kendrick suffered from schizophrenia, and his family reported that his mental state had deteriorated significantly in recent weeks.
A family member who spoke to the outlet said Pastor Allan was alerted to the crime scene after hearing gunshots. He reportedly stumbled upon the scene, wrestled the gun away from Brandon, and called 911 immediately afterward. The children and their families had just celebrated an early birthday party for his nephew Colton, who was about to turn nine in a few days.
Oasis of Praise Church held a special service on Friday to support their pastor. Led by associate minister Patrick Cooper, the church family sang and prayed together for the Kendricks.
“Your pastor’s the strongest person I’ve ever met in my life,” Cooper said. “He showed it to me this morning, less than an hour after the police left. He was already, ‘God’s got this. God’s got it taken care of.’”
He added: “This is a practical lesson in how to deal with grief and how to deal with trouble. This is a pastor’s living example right now.”
A GoFundMe page has gathered over $19,000 (£14,700) so far to help pay for the funerals.