A high-profile bishop from New York City was robbed at gunpoint last week.
Brooklyn’s Bishop Lamor Whitehead had an unruly interruption during his church service on Sunday, July 23 at Tomorrow International Ministries. The scary incident where a gun was held to his 8-month-old’s head was captured on video as the service was being live-streamed.
According to Bishop Whitehead, approximately three or four men walked into the Canarsie building on Ramsen Avenue with guns. The intruders walked in through the back door 10 minutes after he began preaching, CBS reports.
In the latest update, according to The City, a parishioner, Pauline Anderson, claims Bishop Whitehead stole $90,000 from her retirement fund. The lawsuit was filed last year and said, “Mr. Whitehead fraudulently induced Ms. Anderson to liquidate her entire life savings to pay him the ‘investment’ of $90,000.00, promising to use the funds to purchase and renovate a house for her.”
In addition, the outlet reports developers who sold Whitehead a $1.6 million New Jersey home won a court judgment against Whitehead last year for $335,000, which hasn’t been paid. Whitehead reportedly lashed out at reporters for not being empathic toward the situation. He said, “Nobody’s empathizing with my church!”
50 Cent reacted to the news on social media. He said, “well damn,” with eye emojis. Take a look:
ABC reports Bishop held a Sunday service on July 31. The Bishop claims he was targeted because of the flashy jewelry he wears. He said,
“You’re coming straight to me. I don’t want my parishioners hurt. I’ve got women and children there.” He went on to explain,
The robbers also had their gun pointed to deacons. There were about 100 people in the room, and the Bishop says they are traumatized. Whitehead said,
My church is traumatized. The women and children are still crying. Babies are still crying.”
Hip Hop DX points out the gunmen took off with $1 million worth of jewelry and got in a white Mercedes Benz. According to the news outlet, police have the license plate number. Witnesses say they saw the men change their clothes. Luckily no one was hurt.
Whitehead also says he became a “target” when he helped turn the suspect of the fatal NYC subway shooting of 48-year-old Daniel Enriquez in May. He said,
“I turned him in, but the media called me ‘the bling, bling bishop.’ They had my Rolls-Royce caw all over everywhere and I feel that that played a part in this.”
We’ll keep you updated as more details come in.