A preacher known for his “flamboyant lifestyle” was robbed of more than $1 million in jewelry during a sermon in New York City.
Police are still investigating the incident.
Father Lamor is heard asking, “How many of you have lost your faith because you saw somebody else die?” immediately before several gunmen entered the church in Brooklyn.
It is not clear how many people were at the service.
🔴 A Brooklyn bishop was robbed at gunpoint as he was delivering a sermon on Sunday, with the thieves making off with jewellery worth more than $1 million.
Lamor Whitehead was robbed of his chains, cross, wedding ring and watch.
Read more: https://t.co/1yrQdlrVM5… pic.twitter.com/va7IJ0P5cj
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) July 26, 2022
A New York City bishop was robbed at gunpoint in the middle of his sermon this past Sunday.
Lamor Whitehead, the 44-year-old preacher stated that the criminals “won’t get away with it.”
Bishop Lamor Miller-Whitehead, of Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministries, was five minutes into the sermon at his Brooklyn church when he saw a door in the back of the room break open and at least 3 men walk in with guns.
“As I got down, one went to my wife and took all her jewelry and had the gun in front of my 8-month-old baby’s face. “I took off my bishop’s ring, my wedding band, and my bishop’s chain, and then I had chains underneath my robe and he started tapping my neck to see if there was anything else.”
Rolexes, diamonds, and emeralds were stolen from the Brooklyn priest.
Following the robbery, the items taken from him and his wife included $75,000 Rolex and Cavalier watches, a $25,000 Episcopal ruby, a diamond ring, a $25,000 pair of earrings, and his wedding band.
“I didn’t know if they wanted to shoot the church up or if they were just coming for a robbery.”
According to Father Lamor, the masked thieves escaped in a Mercedes.
Best Friends with NYC Mayor Eric Adams
Bishop Lamor Miller-Whitehead is known for his friendship with New York City Mayor Eric Adams and for driving around New York in a Rolls-Royce.
“For you to kick in a church door and come with guns in the middle of service – what God is gonna do to y’all is above my pay grade,” he said of the thieves on Instagram.
In a statement, New York City mayor Eric Adams – who has known Father Lamor since at least 2013, said that New York Police Department is investigating the crime.
READ MORE: 6 Ways to Be a Great Leader
“No one in this city should be the victim of armed robbery, let alone our faith leaders,” said Mayor Adams.
Father Lamor is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
The robbery isn’t the first time that the pastor has made headlines. Just two months ago, the priest reportedly attempted to negotiate the surrender of a suspect who shot and killed a man on a Manhattan-bound subway train.
The incident prompted a flood of criticism on social media about his luxurious tastes and over-the-top lifestyle.
“It’s not about me being flashy,” Father Lamor said. “It’s about me purchasing what I want to purchase.”
No suspects have so far been named or apprehended.
“When I see them come into the sanctuary with their guns, I told everybody to get down, everybody just gets down,” he later said on Instagram.
READ MORE: Drinking More Coffee Linked to Lower Risk for Alzheimer’s
ABOUT THE WRITER:
Elena Patestas is a journalist and writer for Valuetainment media. She attended Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, and Adelphi University on Long Island, New York. She was born and raised in Roslyn, New York, and currently lives in Miami, Florida.
Elena is passionate about bringing positive change to our world and believes education is the root to solving many societal problems. After overcoming a chronic health condition, Elena became passionate about health and believes food is the key to preventing dis-ease and achieving optimum health.
Amongst her many goals, she hopes to bring positive, impactful change to our world to create a healthy, financially sound, and unified society.
Add comment