Man Shoots 19 Times at Jehovah's Witnesses, 'Trying to Get Them Off Property'
John Baldwin, 35, of Centerton, Arkansas is facing federal charges after opening fire at two female Jehovah's Witnesses who visited his home and took too long to leave the area.
Laura Goforth and Rachel Boshears visited Baldwin at his home, but he asked them to leave.
"Get your (expletive) off my property. I moved out here to get away from people like you," the probable cause affidavit cited Baldwin as saying.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
They apologized and went to get in their vehicle, witnesses said, and Baldwin went for his gun. He fired in their direction as they drove away; he managed to fire 19 shots, but police recovered 13 shell casings and a Springfield SDM-9. Baldwin freely admitted to firing the gun. He now faces a felony charge of aggravated assault.
Baldwin told police he "was just letting them know he had a gun and was trying to get them off his property," according to The Smoking Gun.
"My husband and I were working around the house," neighbor Kristi Tidwell told 5 News Online. "We had the blinds open in the back. We saw probably seven or eight cop cars pulling in there. It seems like there is no reason to do anything like that. If they left peaceably, why not leave them alone?"
Baldwin was able to post $50,000 bond and is currently free, as are his weapons.
The Jehovah's Witnesses refused to be seen on film and said that while they want to spread the word of God, they also have a no-contact list residents can be put on if they are not interested in being visited by members.
Jehovah's Witnesses visit areas and pass out information about Jesus the Christ as well as Bibles. They are found throughout the world and, according to the website, have published over 179,000,000 Bibles in 116 languages. It is a growing movement, or sect of Christianity, with approximately 19,000,000 members in 239 lands.
