April 28, 2016
Courtesy of the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office/for PhillyVoice
Mark T. Storms, 46, of Lansdale, has been charged with voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of a 27-year-old man at a church in Montgomery County.
A Lansdale man has been charged with voluntary manslaughter after he opened fire on a 27-year-old man, killing him, in a Montgomery County church.
Mark T. Storms, 46, of Lansdale Borough, was charged with voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of Robert E. Braxton III during an April 24 altercation at Keystone Fellowship Church, 427 Stump Road in Montgomeryville, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele announced Thursday.
According to court documents, Braxton arrived at an 11 a.m. church service and was seen arguing with churchgoers in the back of the building. Braxton, the documents note, became loud and disruptive, arguing with others in attendance and acting irritated.
At that point, court documents say, Storms – who has no official function at the church – approached Braxton and told him to leave. According to witness accounts in court documents, Storms then produced a "concealed weapon" badge and showed it to Braxton.
According to witness statements, Braxton then told Storms "f--- you and your fake badge."
Storms told officers later that he showed the badge – purchased after securing a license from the county to carry a concealed weapon – "to hopefully diffuse the situation," according to court papers. Storms even told police that he had flashed the same badge during a past altercation "and the guy walked away," court documents stated.
But Braxton continued to argue with Storms, and he eventually punched Storms in the face, court documents said. After he was hit, Storms allegedly raised a semi-automatic handgun from a holster on his waist and fired twice, hitting Braxton in his chest and right arm.
Braxton was declared dead just after noon that day.
In a statement to police, Storms claimed "I had no intention to hurt him or kill him. I was trying to stop him because I was afraid he was going to hurt me and other people."
Storms was arrested and is awaiting arraignment in Montgomery County.
