TULSA, Okla. — A man arrested for throwing Molotov cocktails at a downtown Tulsa church and stabbing a school employee with a sword has been charged in federal court, according to U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Daniel Edwards was charged with unlawful possession of an unregistered incendiary bomb. Edwards is currently in the Tulsa County jail on an FBI hold. The U.S. Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (ATF) said he will likely face additional charges for federal arson and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
The school employee, identified by the church as Rod Notzon, confronted Edwards outside and Edwards slashed his hands with a sword, according to TPD. The guard was able to get back inside the church and lock the doors.
Around 4 p.m. Wednesday, police said a man, now identified by police as Edwards, approached the Holy Family Cathedral Church near 8th and Boulder in downtown Tulsa.
According to the church, children were getting school pictures taken on the front steps of the church, which is also a school. Edwards approached the photographer and made concerning statements, according to police. The photographer alerted the school’s front desk attendant, the children were taken inside and the school was put on lockdown.
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TPD said witnesses saw Edwards pull what appeared to be Molotov cocktails out of a cooler, and throw them at the side of the church. TPD said the Molotov cocktails caught fire as they hit the church. ATF agents told FOX23 that because the church was made of brick, the building didn’t catch fire.
TPD said Edwards drove away, and TPD and ATF worked together to investigate the scene at the church.
TPD said about an hour later, Edwards arrived at a south Tulsa Reasor’s grocery store near 71st and Sheridan, where he made bomb threats to people at the store.
ATF and TPD confronted him at the grocery store’s registers and he did not comply with officers commands. An officer used a Taser on Edwards and git him into custody.
The church said Notzon was treated at a hospital and is currently recovering from his injuries.