By Associated Press - Sunday, July 16, 2017

NEW YORK (AP) - The pastor of a church where a congregant was attacked last week at gunpoint says people are afraid to come worship.

Pastor Kehinde Oyetunde told the Daily News that more than 200 people usually turn up on Sunday at the Celestial Church of Christ in Jamaica, Queens. But only a small group came this week, after a woman was held at gunpoint and attacked a half-block from the church. A group stood outside and prayed for the victim Sunday.

The 50-year-old congregant says she was robbed and forced to perform sex acts at about 11 p.m. on Tuesday. Police arrested three suspects. A fourth is at large.

People were interested in these podcasts

Other congregants say they’d feel safer with better street lights and increased police patrols in the area near the church.

___

Information from: Daily News, https://www.nydailynews.com

Copyright © 2026 The Washington Times, LLC.

Story Topics

Please read our comment policy before commenting.