A potentially devastating tragedy was narrowly avoided on Ash Wednesday when a 20-year-old man allegedly attempted to bring a loaded firearm into a Sacramento Catholic church during an all-school Mass, according to federal prosecutors.
Authorities say handwritten notes referencing suicide and threats reveal Brian Girardot Jr. was preparing for what prosecutors described as “a violent incident.”
According to a federal indictment filed Thursday, the incident unfolded on the morning of February 18. Girardot dropped off a younger relative at St. Mary Parish School before returning shortly afterward — this time armed.
Girardot, a former student of the school, allegedly attempted to enter St. Mary’s Church during a Mass attended by students. What happened next may have prevented a catastrophe.
A parent volunteer, who was also an off-duty police officer, noticed what the parish described as a “suspicious male adult approach the front of the church.” The parent quickly intervened, disarming and detaining Girardot before he could enter the sanctuary.
“Thanks to the vigilance and professionalism of our parent volunteers, our children remained safely inside the church for the duration of Mass, and a potential crisis was averted,” St. Mary Parish said in a statement.
School officials emphasized that no students came into contact with Girardot and were unaware of the situation unfolding outside.
But investigators say the danger may have extended beyond the firearm he allegedly carried.
According to the indictment, law enforcement discovered additional ammunition and a camouflage jacket inside Girardot’s vehicle, which was parked near the church. A subsequent search of his home reportedly uncovered a stack of handwritten notes in his bedroom containing references to suicide and threats.
“All of you are the reason I’ve done this,” read one note addressed to three relatives, according to CBS News.
Prosecutors told the outlet that the notes, along with other evidence collected during the investigation, indicate Girardot had engaged in “preparations for a violent incident.”
Girardot has been charged federally with possessing a firearm within a school zone, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced Thursday. He is also facing criminal charges in state court.
If convicted on the federal charge, Girardot faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
The swift response by a watchful parent and the rapid coordination with law enforcement appear to have stopped the situation before it escalated inside a packed church on one of the holiest days of the Christian calendar.
