 PHOTOS/Courtesy of the FBI. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - $25,000 could be yours after the FBI announced a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects responsible in a January 23 bombing that damaged a church known for its inflammatory remarks against the LGBTQ community. Investigators revealed a male and female were witnessed smashing a window at First Works Baptist Church, 2600 Tyler Ave. An object was ignited and thrown in. An explosion followed shortly after, according to the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. The El Monte Police Department was first called at 1 a.m.  PHOTOS/Courtesy of the FBI. Both suspects fled into a vehicle and escaped from the scene. First Works Baptist Church founder Delfin Bruce Mejia has unapologetically spewed hate and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric during sermons and on social media. He slowly became the ire of an entire community, which responded with protests and demands to shut down the church. A petition reportedly more than 15,000 signatures strong was sent to El Monte Mayor Jessica Ancona to close the church. The male suspect is described as Hispanic, between 5 feet 8 inches to 6 feet 1 inch tall and 170 to 180 pounds. The female is possible between 5 feet 3 inches to 5 feet 5 inches tall and between 125 to 130 pounds. Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call the FBI Los Angeles Field Office at 310-477-6565, or any local FBI field office, or American Consulate.  PHOTO/Courtesy of the FBI.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor EL MONTE - A church sustained undisclosed damage in what authorities described as an IED explosion Saturday.
The incident occurred at First Works Baptist Church, 2600 Tyler Ave. around 1:13 a.m. “The Federal Bureau of Investigation responded overnight with members of the El Monte Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to an “IED” attack at the First Works Baptist Church in El Monte, California. Bomb Technicians and an Evidence Response Team are processing the scene which sustained damage. No injuries were reported. A Joint Investigation is underway for the person or group responsible for the attack,” according to Lt. Michael Buckhannon of the El Monte Police Department in a written statement. Firefighters arrived on scene and observed smoke coming from the attic of a one-story church. Upon entering the church, firefighters found no active flames, according to a dispatch supervisor with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Anyone with information on this incident is urged to contact the FBI Los Angeles Field Office at 310-477-6565, or at fbi.tips.gov. |
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