Staff and wire reports

SEGUIN — A Southeast Texas police chief says the handgun a man was carrying while on his way to a church to fulfill a “prophecy” was stolen days earlier from a home.

Vidor police Chief Rod Carroll said Monday it’s not clear if Tony Dwayne Albert II, 33, was involved in the theft of the gun or obtained it later.

Carroll says Albert, who was found with the gun, extra ammunition and a face shield, had apparently threatened a Baptist church in Vidor.

Albert was stopped Sunday by an off-duty policeman in the San Antonio suburb of Seguin, which is 250 miles from Vidor. It’s not clear what brought Albert to the San Antonio area.

Carroll says family members told investigators that Albert has a history of mental illness.

A waitress in suburban San Antonio says Albert said he was on his way to a church to fulfill “a prophecy” when he was arrested after he had asked her for directions to a church.

Brianna Jimenez said Albert went to the restroom in Las Mañanitas Mexican Restaurant in Sequin on Sunday, then came out and asked for the nearest Baptist church.

Jimenez says he was provided directions and as he left, she saw him gripping a weapon. She says an employee locked the door after he left and her mother called police, who arrested Albert after finding him with a loaded handgun, extra ammunition and a face shield.

In an issued statement, Carroll said Albert was held at Guadalupe County jail on a bond of $200,000.

 

First Baptist Church in Vidor said they have no idea what motivated Albert’s actions, but said the church has security in place. The church also said it will follow law enforcement’s direction.

 

“We continue to pray for Mr. Albert’s well-being,” the church said in a written statement.