I’ll explain what happened at a North Carolina church, list what was found, include official quoted material exactly as published, and argue briefly from a law-and-order perspective about protecting houses of worship. This piece sticks to facts, the arrest, charges, and the broader pattern of attacks on churches. I preserve the quoted blocks and the embedded video token. The tone is direct, skeptical of soft-on-crime policies, and focused on public safety.
On Sunday, Wesley Memorial Methodist Church in High Point, North Carolina, nearly became the scene of a violent attack that was stopped before it began. An observant caller and an off-duty officer intervened after spotting an armed man in a truck in the church parking lot. Thanks to quick action, local police were able to disarm and arrest the suspect, identified as William S. Milliken III, 44, of Thomasville.
A Thomasville man faces multiple charges, including having a weapon of mass destruction, after bringing a flamethrower to a High Point church on Sunday, according to a High Point Police Department news release.
At 10:15 a.m., High Point 911 got a call about an armed person sitting in a truck in the parking lot of Wesley Memorial Methodist Church on Chestnut Drive.
The caller said the man had a gun and was wearing camouflage clothing. An off-duty officer who was working at the church then responded to the parking lot. Additional officers arrived, disarmed the man, later identified as William S. Milliken III, 44, of Thomasville, and took him into custody.
At the time of his arrest, he was wearing a plate carrier, which is a type of body armor.
Police searched Milliken’s truck and the haul is chilling: weapons, tools for violence, and what appear to be targeted plans. There were more than 500 rounds of ammunition, two flamethrowers, two crossbows, three knives, and a CO2-powered launcher designed to resemble a handgun. They also found rolls of black duct tape and oxycodone pills, and a plate carrier that qualified as body armor was being worn at the time of arrest.
- More than 500 rounds of ammunition
- CO2-powered launcher designed to resemble a handgun
- Two flamethrowers
- Two crossbows
- Rolls of black duct tape
- Three knives
- Oxycodone pills
Beyond the arsenal, court documents reportedly show a notebook containing addresses of other churches and schools, which makes this more than a single isolated incident. That detail raises clear questions about intent and scope, and it underscores why communities and law enforcement must take threats to faith institutions seriously. When targets are mapped out, preventive steps are not optional; they are essential.
Milliken has been charged with possession of a weapon of mass destruction, impersonating law enforcement, and possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, among other charges yet to be determined. Reports say Milliken suffers from mental health issues, a factor that complicates both criminal liability and public safety considerations. Regardless of underlying causes, the immediate priority must be keeping congregations safe.
According to Family Research Council, between 2018 and 2024, there have been 1,384 documented hostile acts against churches in America, including vandalism, arson, firebombings, bomb threats, and shootings. This represents an eight-fold increase from just five years prior. But for those with eyes to see, this surge was never a matter of if but when.
The trend lines here are alarming and demand a practical response rather than platitudes. Standing for Freedom Center and other observers argue that pastors and church leaders should consider armed, trained security as part of shepherding their flock. That recommendation is about responsibility and prevention: guarding people who come to worship and protecting fragile communities from targeted violence.
At many congregations, defensive steps already include coordination with local police, dedicated security teams, and volunteers who monitor parking and entry points. These measures are not about turning churches into fortresses but about acknowledging reality and protecting parishioners. Churches are soft targets when left exposed, and evil actors look for the weakest point to exploit.
The quick collapse of this plot in High Point is a credit to good citizens and patrol officers doing their jobs, but it should not stop the conversation about broader safeguards. Law-abiding communities and elected officials who prioritize law and order need to back sensible protection plans for houses of worship. If we want churches to remain safe places for families and for faith, prevention has to be taken seriously and supported at every level of government and community life.
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