Three Victims Stabbed, One Injured, Two Remain Hospitalized
Lawrence Capener, 24
By Officer Tasia Martinez
Off duty Albuquerque Police Officer Daren DeAguero cuffed and detained a man who was attacking parishioners with a knife at the St. Jude Catholic Church.
Detectives arrested and booked Lawrence Capener, 24, on three counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon following a brutal attack on the St. Jude Church Choir Director, Adam Alvarez, 48. As church members stopped the attack, two additional victims were stabbed including Greg Aragon, 43, and Gerald Madrid, 53.
Witnesses say that as the final song of the church service began, Capener leapt from his seat, jumped over the pews and charged Alvarez with a knife. Capener stabbed Alvarez repeatedly in the back and the arm. Another choir member, Gerald Madrid, tried to stop the attack by wrapping his arms around Capener; Capener stabbed Madrid five times in the back. As Madrid fell to the floor, other parishioners sprang into action to stop Capener. During the massive struggle, Capener reportedly waved the knife around “wildly”, cutting two other people who intervened to stop the attack, including Michael Tungate, 37, and off duty Albuquerque Fire Department Lieutenant Greg Aragon, who was treated for a minor laceration and released from a local area hospital.
Capener also sustained a laceration to his hand during the struggle for the knife. He was treated and released from the hospital and booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center where he is being held today on a $75,000 cash or surety bond.
The attack was stopped by the courageous churchgoers who worked together to jump onto Capener and disarm him. Off duty public safety personnel were among those who intervened to stop the attack. FBI Special Agent, Charles Metzler Jr., 53, Rio Rancho Police Officer Chris Maestas, 34, and Department of Correction Sgt. Gilbert Flores, 53, were also among the church members who stopped the attack. Numerous witnesses reported the bravery and quick action of off-duty Albuquerque Police Officer Daren DeAguero who detained the suspect in handcuffs that were provided by Officer Maestas.
“The quick action by the parishioners and numerous off-duty public safety personnel clearly prevented a major tragedy,” APD Police Chief Ray Schultz said. “We are grateful for the vigilance and bravery of those who undoubtedly put their lives at risk.”
Capener was interviewed by APD Northwest Impact Detectives Sunday evening and told them that he intended to attack Adam Alvarez because he believes Alvarez is part of a group of Freemasons who are involved in a large-scale conspiracy.
As Capener received medical treatment for the cut on his hand, he told medical staff that the Freemasons have tapped into the radio waves of the church’s microphones to send out their message. Capener stated that the devil was sending a message through the microphone whenever Alvarez sang or spoke. He said that he had been attending church at St. Jude’s for the past three months and on Sunday he “had enough” and had to take action.
Capener admitted to vandalizing the Masonic Lodge, 1420 Barbara Loop SE, Rio Rancho, NM. Capener vandalized the Masonic Lodge within hours prior to the church attack. Capener still had spray paint on his hands when he was taken into custody. The Rio Rancho Police Department is investigating the vandalism.
APD Detectives have conducted search warrants on Capener’s vehicle and residence. The investigation into this incident is ongoing.
