Ohio Church Shooting On Easter, Witnesses Say The Man Who Allegedly Killed His Father Was Yelling About God And Allah

A 25-year-old man accused of walking into an Ohio church and killing his 52-year-old father, was allegedly yelling about God and Allah after the killing on Easter Sunday.

Police told the Associated Press (AP) that Reshad Riddle walked into the Hiawatha Church of God in Christ in Ashtabula and killed his father, Richard Riddle, with a single shot from a handgun Sunday afternoon.

"It was terrifying," Associate Pastor Sean Adams told The (Ashtabula) Star Beacon newspaper. "The children were screaming and people were dialing 911. We were afraid to breathe."

Adams said that Reshad Riddle still had the gun in his hand after the alleged killing. He was screaming and yelling, "the will of Allah. This is the will of God," Adams told the newspaper.

As the death happened, those inside the church were scared as some were fortunate to be leaving at the time.

"People pushed me into a back office and said, 'Somebody's here with a gun,'" Rev. David Howard Jr. told The Plain newspaper. "The guy was outside hollering and acting crazy."

The AP reported that police were on the scene quickly and were able to arrest Reshad.

"Witnesses at the scene said the shooter entered church and made some references to Allah, but we are not sure if that was a motive or if there was a family problem," Ashtabula Police Chief Robert Stell told the AP. "There is no indication that the father and son had a bad relationship. Everyone thinks this was very surprising. Reshad didn't offer a planned motive for the shooting."

Ashtabula County Common Pleas Court records show that Reshad was arrested and charged with two counts of felonious assault, kidnapping, abduction and tampering with evidence in 2006. Records show that in 2007, Reshad Riddle was charged with felonious assault, and in 2009 he was charged with possession of drugs, tampering with evidence and possession of cocaine.

He was alleged to attempting to cut his girlfriend's throat at one time. This lead to one of the felony assault charges.

"No one would have thought twice about him being here with his family on Easter," Adams said. "His family (has) been members here for years and years."