Gun-Wielding Pastor Won’t Face Charges

Detroit, MI – A pastor who shot and killed a man who came at him with a brick will reportedly not face criminal charges.

The Wayne County prosecutor’s office said in a news release that the pastor of City of God church on the city’s northwest side ‘had an honest and reasonable belief’ that he and others were at risk of death or harm Oct. 18, when Deante Smith rushed at him with a brick.

Authorities say the 25-year-old Smith forced his way inside the church, pushed the pastor’s mother to the ground and rushed past men restraining him and toward the pastor, brandishing the brick. The pastor shot him once, then multiple times when Smith approached him again.

There was apparently a history of threats and violence against the pastor by the assailant.

Prosecutors concluded ‘the pattern of threats and violent behavior’ toward the pastor ‘support the decision not to charge’ him.

Russ Chastain

Editor & Contributing Writer Russ Chastain is a lifelong hunter and shooter who has spent his life learning about hunting, shooting, guns, ammunition, gunsmithing, reloading, and bullet casting. He started toting his own gun in the woods at age nine and he's pursued deer with rifles since 1982, so his hunting knowledge has been growing for more than three and a half decades. His desire and ability to share this knowledge with others has also grown, and Russ has been professionally writing and editing original hunting & shooting content since 1998. Russ Chastain has a passion for sharing accurate, honest, interesting hunting & shooting knowledge and stories with people of all skill levels.