Bellevue Baptist Church (Karen Pulfer Focht/The Commercial Appeal)

By Jody Callahan of The Commercial Appeal

The man who took a handgun and rifle to Bellevue Baptist Church Sunday had a valid carry permit and appears not to have broken any state gun laws, officials said Monday.

Memphis police confirmed that Marcus Donald, 31, hasn't been charged with any weapons violations in the incident that happened at the megachurch at 2000 Appling Road a little after 11 a.m. Sunday, during the last of three Easter services.

Donald was arrested for "emergency commitment" and was still in custody Monday, Memphis police said. He was carrying a loaded .40-caliber Beretta in his pants pocket and a .300 Blackout rifle in a backpack.

Asked whether Donald broke any state gun laws, Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich said: "Based on what we've been told, no. On church property unless it has been posted no guns or unless there's a school on the property, it's not a violation of state law."

Bellevue officials also released a more detailed account of what happened in a letter to church members. According to the letter, a "hostess" at the church saw Donald enter the building, and noticed a pistol sticking out of his pocket.

She alerted a nearby church official, who contacted security. Bellevue security director Andy Willis approached Donald, who told him he had a carry permit.

Willis then told Donald that for him to attend the service, he had to take his guns back out to his car. Willis took the pistol and unloaded it, and then tried to put it in the backpack, the letter said. That's when he noticed the rifle and called for assistance.

At that point, the letter said, Donald started running toward the sanctuary. Willis and another security officer then stopped and handcuffed him until police arrived. After his arrest, Donald allegedly told police that "people in society are a threat to him and that he must be vigilant."

"We are thankful to our volunteer hostess for being observant and responding to what she saw. We are also thankful for our security team who responded and eliminated the potential threat," the letter said.

For Donald's weapons to be legal, three criteria had to be met:

* Donald must have a valid carry permit. Memphis police spokesman Louis Brownlee confirmed Monday that Donald had such a permit.

Although the permit allows its holder to carry loaded handguns, state law indicates that any long guns being carried must not have a round in the chamber. Police confirmed that Donald's rifle did not have a round in the chamber.

* Bellevue must not prohibit weapons, and, if they do, signage must be posted at entrances stating such prohibitions, Tennessee Firearms Association head John Harris said.

Bellevue spokesman Jim Barnwell said Sunday that he was unaware of any weapons policies at the church.

* No licensed secondary school was in session at the time.

Now that Donald has been committed, it's possible his carry permit will be revoked, said Megan Buell, spokesman for the Tennessee Department of Safety.

Once someone has been committed, law enforcement is required to notify the state; the carry permit is then suspended. A person whose permit is suspended can later appear before a judge to ask that it be reinstated, Buell said.

Although Buell confirmed that her department is working with Memphis police on this issue, she said state law prevents her from saying whether Donald's permit has been suspended.