A member of the church targeted by Kroger shooter Gregory Bush believes the congregation narrowly missed a hate crime.
Billy Williams was at First Baptist Church of Jeffersontown on October 24 when Bush attempted to enter the church’s locked doors. He usually sits at a desk and watches the surveillance cameras in case First Baptist receives any visitors. Williams was away from his desk when Bush approached the property.
His short absence probably saved his life.
“When I see someone approaching the church on the monitors, I typically get up from my desk and walk to the door to greet them and ask them if there is any way I can help them,” Williams told CNN’s Brooke Baldwin.
“It’s something I do pretty regularly and would have done the same thing if I seen the situation on [this] past Wednesday.”
When asked if he believed Bush was there to commit a hate crime, Williams didn’t hesitate.
“I really do,” he admitted. “I reflected back on it some and because of the camera system we have, I saw that he circled the building before he approached the building before he tried all three of the doors. I just don’t believe he came there with any intent but to do us harm.”
About an hour before Bush’s arrival, there were 70 people at First Baptist for a noon Bible study. When he got there, there were about ten people in the building. That blessing is not lost on Williams.
He believes the series of events was an “act of God” according to The Courier-Journal. Williams is also reconsidering how he will greet others who may approach First Baptist.
"We've done that hundreds of times. I may have to rethink that process now,” he said.
After he left the church, Bush drove to a nearby Kroger and murdered Maurice Stallard and Vickie Lee Jones. The victims were a niece and nephew, respectively, to members of the First Baptist congregation.
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