Man arrested in church with two guns

FAIRHOPE, Ala. (WALA) - UPDATE 8:00 p.m.: Police say new charges have been filed against Hernandez. He is now charged with illegal possession of prescription drugs, possession of a concealed weapon without a permit and disorderly conduct.

According to jail records, Hernandez is being held with no bond.

Fairhope Police Department arrested a suspect after receiving a call that he had entered a church armed with an assault rifle. Fairhope Church of Christ confirms, the gunman, Robin Hernandez and his wife were members of the church.

Minister Mike Ray said the church has decided to treat the incident like a "private family matter" and will not be commenting on the incident. Ray told FOX10, however, they hope everything works out for the best for everyone involved.

According to police, Hernandez went into the church with an assault rifle and wearing a backpack and military fatigues.

The anonymous tip from another member of the congregation gave police a description of the suspect as well as where he was sitting.

Police said when officers found him seated in the church, they disarmed and arrested Hernandez.

"He was wearing a full combat uniform,carrying a backpack with an assault rifle slung across his chest," said Fairhope Police Department Sgt. Craig Sawyer.

Officers said when they went inside the church to arrest Hernandez the congregation was frozen in terror.

"They didn't know what to do. They didn't know if they should get up and evacuate. They didn't want to provoke anything from him so it was just a sense or terror in the church. They were just sitting in their pews afraid to move," said Sawyer.

Press said several church members had voiced concerns about Hernandez.

Along with the M-4 .334 caliber semi-automatic rifle, which was equipped with tactical sights, they found a Glock 9mm pistol. He also had 150 rounds of ammunition for the rifle and 30 for the pistol. Police said they also confiscated a first-aid kit, six morphine pills and a walkie-talkie equipped with an earpiece.

Fairhope Police Chief Bill Press said, “Our community is very fortunate in that this incident had the potential for a less than desirable outcome.”

According to police reports, Hernandez’s wife had an identical walkie-talkie but she was not charged.

"They were both carrying walkie-talkie radios earpieces and microphones so they both had means of two way communication with each other," said Sawyer.

Police later discovered that Hernandez had been honorably discharged from the military and, at his home, discovered and seized several more guns.

Police said they don't know what Hernandez's intentions were. No shots were fired.

"We can only speculate with his prior military service he wanted to be prepared for any scenario, having a combat trauma kit obviously would treat any type of gunshot wounds or any type of injury, morphine pills would minimize the pain," said Sawyer.

The investigation is on-going and the Fairhope Police Department is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Baldwin County District Attorney’s Office. 

Hernandez is charged with possession of a controlled substance and additional federal and state firearm violations are being considered.