'Oh Jesus, My Family;' Video Shows Horrific 'Christian Family Band' Brawling at Walmart Before Police Shoot One Member Dead

By Leonardo Blair, Senior Reporter Monday, April 13, 2015

Police in Arizona released a disturbing dashboard camera video Friday showing a brawl between officers and members of a traveling "Christian family band" in a Walmart parking lot last month that left one band member dead and others shrieking in pain.

The Facebook page for the band, called "Matthew 24 Now," in reference to a chapter of the Bible in the book of Matthew that addresses the end of time, is filled with other references to Scripture. Since the release of the video, the page has also been littered with comments critical of the brawling band.

The incident took place on March 21 in Cottonwood, Arizona, after a Walmart employee complained to police that a member of the family had assaulted her, according to CBS.

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Cottonwood Police Chief Jody Fanning explained that when four Cottonwood officers arrived to talk with the Gaver family, they were attacked with punches and threats by the father and his five sons.

One officer who arrived at the scene where the family was gathered behind a Chevrolet Suburban SUV can be heard on the video saying: "We need to separate these folks and talk to them."

In response, the apparent patriarch of the family said: "No, you are not going to separate me from my family." Almost instantaneously after that response, punches started flying in the parking lot.

Another officer is seen in the video shouting at one of the men to "get down or I'll shoot you dead," which was followed by a series of expletives.

Fanning said the use of pepper spray, batons and stun guns were not enough to stop the fight, adding that the family's fighting tactics were "taught."

"Their main mode to fight is to grab the officers' faces, eyes, ears and mouth and try and pull as hard as they possibly can," Fanning said. "When they get Tased, they roll to try to break the strings so the electricity stops."
Some 2 minutes and 30 seconds into the video, Sgt. Jeremy Daniels screamed: "He's got my gun!" A few moments later Daniels was shot in the leg.

He said as Daniels lay on the ground another officer fired one shot at David Gaver, 28, hitting him in the stomach. He also shot dead Enoch Gaver, 21, who investigators say was still holding onto Daniels' loaded gun.

After the incident that goes on for almost 9 minutes on video, Peter Gaver, 55, Ruth Gaver, 52, Nathan Gaver, 27, and 29-year-old Jeramiah Gaver were all arrested on various charges of aggravated assault, resisting arrest and hindering prosecution.

Two juveniles, an 11-year-old girl and 15-year-old boy, were also arrested but remain unidentified.