Jeremiah Gaver, member of a Christian family band that was arrested on Saturday March 21 after a deadly gunfight outside of a Walmart parking lot Cottonwood, Arizona.
An evangelical Christian family band that believed in a coming Jesus Apocalypse was arrested last Saturday following a deadly gunfight outside a Walmart parking lot in Cottonwood, Arizona.
Nine suspects were involved in a violent brawl that left at least one person dead. Suspects arrested from the Gaver family included Peter Gaver, 55, and his sons, Jeremiah, 29, and Nathaniel, 27, all from the small-time Christian band Matthew 24 Now.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety reports that Cottonwood police officers arrived at the Walmart after a store employee was assaulted during an encounter with the family. The Gavers had been living out of a large van with Idaho license plates in the parking lot for the past few days, and entered the retail store to use the toilet when trouble ensued.
From the Christian Post:
Upon arrival, police were reportedly attacked by members of the family and Sgt. Jeremy Daniels, 31, suffered a gunshot wound to the leg. The 10-year veteran officer has since been treated and is expected to make a full recovery.
Seven other officers sustained cuts and bruises during the clash. A preliminary investigation suggests that a total of three gunshots were fired and there was an alleged struggle for one officer’s gun, but the investigation is ongoing.
One of the suspects, identified as Enoch Gaver, was killed after allegedly shooting at police. A second suspect was seriously wounded during the incident and one onlooker recalled the horrifying scene.
“I was here last night. It was a lot of noise. It looked like a riot in the middle of the parking lot. I mean it was unbelievable,” eyewitness Louie Solano reportedly told CBS5AZ. “Lots of screams. Just screeching noise, like unreal, unreal. I heard about eight to 10 shots.”
The Gaver family band’s Facebook page is still up. Matthew 24 Now, the name of their band, is believed to be a reference to scripture that refers to the end of times and the apocalypse.
[via Christian Nightmares]
The ill-fated Cottonwood Wal-Mart Parking lot
From the band’s Facebook page, their van.
