A pastor’s wife was charged with wanton endangerment on Aug. 22 after firing a gun in a church parking lot, according to the Register-Herald. The gunfight allegedly occurred in response to a heated argument with a youth pastor’s wife.
Newsweek reports Melinda Frye Toney—wife of Earl Toney, pastor of New Life Apostolic Church in Oak Hill, West Virginia—accidentally fired the gun when her husband tried to grab the pistol. Several people were in the parking lot at the time, including children.
Toney’s disagreement with Lori Haywood, wife of youth pastor David Haywood, stemmed from an argument over a shirt Haywood wore. When Lori Haywood wore the themed T-shirt on May 11, a “minor argument” ensued. Fayette Sheriff’s Detective Kevin Willis says the shirt was “the straw that broke the camel’s back.”
“We were just trying to leave, peaceful,” Lori Haywood says, according to the Washington Examiner. “The reason for the shooting was stupid and very unnecessary.”
According to the Christian Post, Willis says that “at some point, the suspect leaves the church and goes outside and retrieves a firearm. So then, whenever she comes outside of the church, the husband is with her and realizes what she is doing and goes to grab her, and it goes off.”
The evening Toney was charged, she posted on Facebook saying she was going to persevere despite the curve balls life kept throwing at her.
“Sometimes I wonder how I make it through life with all of curve balls that keep being thrown my way …. but I continue to hold on …. cause GOD said he wouldn’t leave me and he would be there through the good and bad , and no matter what GOD has proven himself time and time again! Friends and Family may let you down , things don’t go like they are planned and troubles may come our way but if we would put GOD 1st in ALL we do …all of life and other things will fall into place. I refuse to be defeated. I am a overcomer through Christ!!!”
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