A Connecticut pastor beat a teen trying to carjack his vehicle in a visit to Baltimore about a fortnight ago, and tried to offer him mercy after he “picked the wrong car,” said the chaplain.
Bishop-Elect for the Pentecostal Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Bridgeport, Kenneth Moales Jr, tackled a would-be carjacker who held him at gunpoint and pinned the suspect to the ground, per the shocking footage obtained by News 12 Connecticut.
The suspect who approached the pastor’s car, was one of three teenagers arrested in connection with the late-night carjacking.
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According to reports, he asked for the time before pulling a gun on the clergyman and demanded he get out of the vehicle, said Moales to cops.
“I knew something wasn’t right when I went to grab him with my car. He pulled up his ski mask over his face and put the gun to the window and said, ‘Get out of the car now.’ (I) start to think, ‘What is going on? Like, I’m about to get carjacked,” Moales told News 12.
Nonetheless, even as he was held at gunpoint, the chaplain planned on going down swinging.
“He’s placed materialism over my life, and unfortunately for him, he picked the wrong car,” Moales said.
Moales managed to get out of his car and slammed the suspect onto the pavement, pinning him to the ground, a video of the altercation shows.
Eventually, the suspect freed himself and was able to get a few licks in before speeding off with Moales’ vehicle, police said.
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Moales revealed that during the fight, once he realized the assailant was just a teenager, he tried to show him mercy. However, the suspect just grabbed his discarded shoe and gun before bolting.
“To be honest with you, I’m more hurt that he didn’t have respect for me as a pastor, that after giving him a chance. You know, we already fought you, obviously, I obviously have the advantage over you, and I didn’t take that chance while you were down,” Moales told the outlet.
The Connecticut pastor was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries and is on the mend after the altercation with the teen, a statement from his congregation indicates.
Moales’ car was recovered the day after, as police arrested three male suspects; a 15-year-old, a 16-year-old and a 19-year-old.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott insisted that he would hold the young men accountable for their actions.
