Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 6 September 2024

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.

3rd Quarter Faith-Based Security & Resilience Learning Series

The Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security and partners cordially invite you to   
attend the third quarterly event of our virtual learning series on 
Monday, September 30, 2024.   In this segment of our series, we will be conducting a panel discussion between faith leaders who have been the unfortunate victims of gun violence along with public officials who are experts in the field of public safety.

Panelists:

Rabbi Hazzan Dr. Jeffrey Myers – Tree of Life Synagogue, Pittsburgh PA
Surviving the worst anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history, Rabbi Myers addresses the responsibility of houses of worship to provide a balance between being open and welcoming, yet safe and secure.

Reverend Brenda Gregg – Destiny of Faith Church, Pittsburgh, PA
In October 2022, the Destiny of Faith Church was the site of a mass shooting when 
two teenagers opened fire during a funeral and six individuals were injured.

Pastor Glenn Germany – Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church, Pittsburgh, PA
While conducting a sermon, Pastor Germany narrowly escaped harm when an attempted shooter’s firearm jammed.

Robert Shively Jr. – Director of Public Safety, Cumberland County
Emergency Preparedness and Consequence Management Expert

George Giangi, Chair, Business, Industry & Infrastructure, South Central Task Force 

Best Practices for Congregation Security

Guidance and further resources will be provided via handouts, and there will be time 
set aside at the end for Questions & Answers.

Details

• Mon, Sep 30
• 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM EDT
• Online event

Register here.

Georgia: Apalachee High School Shooting Update:

• Georgia school shooting: Suspect’s father arrested on charges including involuntary manslaughter
  • The 14-year-old suspect, (name omitted), who used an AR-style weapon in the shooting, surrendered immediately and was taken into custody within minutes. He was charged with four counts of murder today.
  • The suspect’s father, Colin Gray, 54, was arrested on four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight counts of cruelty to children, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said today.
  • Colin Gray gave his son an AR-15 style rifle as a gift, two law enforcement sources said. It’s unclear when he gave the gift, but it was after authorities interviewed the father and son last year in connection with threats to carry out a school shooting,
  • The suspect was a new student at Apalachee High, having only been there for a partial day. The day of the shooting was his first full day at the school, Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said.
• Father of Teen Suspect Charged in Georgia School Shooting
• Georgia school-shooting suspect struggled with mental health, aunt says. He “was begging for help from everybody around him,” Annie Brown, the aunt, told The Washington Post. “The adults around him failed him.”
• Georgia school shooter (name omitted) as his ‘obsession’ with Parkland massacre is revealed
• Georgia school shooting suspect (name omitted)’s broken homelife: A mom with multiple drug arrests and a dad who gave him an AR-15 for Christmas
• How (name omitted)’s Father Missed All the Warning Signs