Mega church pastor beaten to death with electric guitar by man who rammed car into church

A North Texas congregation is reeling after an attacker rammed a car into a church wall, chased the pastor, and beat him to death with an electric guitar.



Police told reporters they didn't know why the unidentified suspect attacked Rev. Danny Kirk Sr., founding pastor of the Greater Sweethome MIssionary Baptist Church.

In a harrowing 911 call an unidentified church secretary said that some staff tried to fight him off but that Kirk was in desperate need of an ambulance.

Horror: A member of the Greater Sweethome Missionary Baptist Church in Forest Hill, Texas, reacts in terror to pastor Kirk's murder

'My pastor's bleeding, he's been attacked,' the worker tells dispatchers while locked in her office.'I'm not going out there. I need real help fast. Send policeman. I do need an ambulance also.'

'Does your pastor know him?' the dispatcher asked.

'I have no idea.'

Seeking answers: The Forest Hill Police still don't know why the unidentified assailant attacked pastor Kirk

The flock: Hundreds of members of Kirk's congregation gathered to mourn the founder of their church

The unidentified assailant apparently drove his car into the church wall on purpose shortly before noon.

He then began to attack Kirk in the parking lot before chasing him into the church, according to Forest Hill Police Chief Dan Dennis.



When police arrived they found the suspect striking Kirk with an electric guitar they believe was already in the church.



When police arrived they had to use a Taser to subdue the man, handcuffed him, and locked him in their patrol car.

Sadly it was too late for Kirk who had already died.

Shocked: Church members wept in stunned sorrow at the murder of a pastor they described as a cheerful man given to bear hugs

A maintenance worker who tried to help Kirk was also injured and taken to an area hospital but his condition is unknown.



The assailant himself was found unresponsive shortly after being taken into custody and was pronounced dead at a local hospital.



Dennis told reporters police did not yet know if the suspect knew Kirk, attended the church, or what his motives were for attacking the pastor.

For hours after the shocking attack hundreds gathered outside the church, gathering around the crime-scene tape wrapped around a small statue of Jesus near the wrecked car.



Home sweet home: Kirk started the church in a strip mall before growing it to hundreds of members and building the red brick church

Many mourned Kirk as a dedicated minister with a cheerful personality who knew the names of each of his hundreds of church members.

'He really was concerned about our souls,' recalled Montoya McNeil, a member for eight years. 'You looked forward to being here... I'm not asking God why, because I know where he is, but we won't get those big bear hugs and those great sermons anymore.'

Kirk started the congregation years ago in a strip mall before growing the ranks so large he needed to build a red-brick church.

He was also an unofficial volunteer chaplain who occasionally counseled members of the local high school football team.