Christopher Gowett, 29, of Clay, Onondaga County, New York, United States entered Sacred Heart Church in Cicero, Onondaga County at around 10:11 a.m. on October 13, 2023. He allegedly appeared to have mental health issues.
When the Catholic church’s staff approached Gowett, he began making threats, according to the Cicero Police Department. He was not armed.
Gowett allegedly claimed to be with Hamas. On October 7, 2023, the Palestinian extremist militant group attacked Israel.
“Today was going to be bad,” Gowett told a staff member. He left the church after making several threats.
Sacred Heart Church and the affiliated preschool went into lockdown until Cicero Police Department officers arrived. Gowett was arrested without incident a short distance from the church.
The Clay resident was booked into the Onondaga County Justice Center jail in Syracuse, Onondaga County to wait for arraignment. He was charged with one count of making a threat of harm.
CONAN Daily 