Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 2 May 2025

These updates are shared to help raise the situational awareness of Faith-Based organizations to best defend against and mitigate the impacts from all-hazards threats including physical security, cybersecurity, and natural disasters. 

Review of Security Teams in Light of Recent Legislation in California 

Member ONLY Event.  

Join a discussion on the effects to security teams, how they operate, and what requirements they may need to meet pursuant to a bill that was just passed in the state of California.  

Due to scheduling conflicts, the event date had to be changed from 06 May to 22 May. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope that you can still join us! 

Register Here 

Presentation of Incidents Affecting Houses of Worship in 2024 

Member ONLY Event.  

Join a presentation of the much-anticipated cumulative data on attacks on houses of worship in 2024.  

The presentation will take place on 07 May 2025 at 12pm ET. 

Register Here 

Florida Man Arrested in Foiled Mass Shooting Plot – Church Listed Among Targets 

A 22-year-old Florida man, Damien Blade Allen, was arrested after authorities uncovered a detailed plan to carry out seven mass shootings including an attack on a church. A tip from the FBI led Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office to search Allen’s home, where they found 18 firearms, 12,000 rounds of ammo, police and military uniforms, fake IDs, and tactical gear. 

Investigators linked Allen to Natalie Rupnow, a teen who committed a deadly school shooting in Wisconsin in 2024. The two exchanged messages discussing attacks and shared extremist and racist content online. Allen had posed as a deputy on social media using fake gear and posted videos in imitation police vehicles. 

Allen faces charges for making mass shooting threats, unlawful communication, and impersonating law enforcement. The case highlights growing concerns about online radicalization, impersonation tactics, and the specific targeting of faith communities. 

Key Takeaways for Church Security: 

• Attackers often reveal their intent online. 
• Impersonation of law enforcement is a rising threat. 
• Churches should maintain visible security and build relationships with local law enforcement. 
• Vigilance and reporting suspicious behavior can save lives. 

Analyst Comments: This incident highlights the growing complexity of the domestic threat environment where individuals can become self-radicalized through online platforms, acquire tactical skills, and loosely coordinate with others who share similar extremist views across state lines. Allen’s connection to the Wisconsin shooter points to a likely ideological motive with signs of a broader intent to carry out coordinated, multi-target acts of violence. The targeting of a church reflects growing concerns about the vulnerability of houses of worship. While often seen as apolitical and community-centered, these spaces are not exempt from ideologically driven threats. It is important for faith-based institutions to be prepared, FB-ISAO has a resource library on Securing Facilities and People. 

Related Articles:

• Arrest in Florida reveals love link, conspiracy between man and Wisconsin school shooter 
• Man posing as deputy fantasized about attacks with teen who killed 2 at school, PBSO says 
• Sheriff: Mass shooting averted after Palm Beach County man found armed, ‘ready to go’  

2 kids, 1 adult struck by car outside church preschool in Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina 

On May 1, 2025, a man drove into two children and one adult outside Sunrise Presbyterian Church on Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, in what authorities say may have been an intentional act. The incident occurred around 1 p.m. near the church’s preschool. After a five-hour manhunt involving local police, the FBI, and U.S. Marshals, the suspect was found hiding in a boat behind a house across the street and taken into custody without incident. 

The suspect reportedly fled the scene on foot, possibly armed with a knife. Law enforcement conducted grid searches, deployed drones, and established checkpoints. 

One child and one adult were hospitalized but are expected to be released soon. The third victim was treated at the scene. The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office is now leading the investigation, and charges against the suspect are pending. Authorities have not confirmed whether the crash was deliberate but say the investigation is ongoing. 

Analyst Comments: This incident highlights serious concerns about the vulnerability of soft targets such as preschools and houses of worship. The suspect’s alleged use of a vehicle to carry out an attack near a church-affiliated preschool potentially with intent reflects patterns observed in both domestic and global acts of violence where easily accessible and symbolically significant locations are chosen to inflict widespread harm. For security professionals this incident emphasizes the need for thorough threat assessments in both public and faith-based institutions, the importance of increased surveillance in school zones, and the growing significance of identifying behavioral indicators of potential threats.