Staff Reports
A potentially deadly attack on a house of worship in High Point was stopped before it started — not because the system worked perfectly, but because an alert citizen and an off‑duty police officer did their jobs. William S. Milliken III, 44, of Thomasville, was arrested in the parking lot of Wesley Memorial Methodist Church after officers found an arsenal in his vehicle. If anyone needed a reminder that soft targets still draw violent actors, this should be it.
What police found and the charges against the suspect
High Point police say they found two flamethrowers, two crossbows, a CO2‑powered launcher made to look like a handgun, more than 500 rounds of ammunition, body armor, handcuffs, rolls of black duct tape, knives, oxycodone pills and notebooks listing addresses and GPS coordinates for churches and schools. Chief Curtis Cheeks III praised the fast actions that “prevented a potentially dangerous situation from escalating.” Milliken faces multiple charges, including possession of a weapon of mass destruction, impersonating law enforcement and possession of a Schedule II controlled substance. He was booked into the Guilford County jail and denied bond at his first appearance.
Why this arrest matters for church security
This is not an isolated freak show. Houses of worship across the country have seen a spike in threats, vandalism and violent plots. When somebody sits in a church parking lot with flamethrowers and a notebook of targets, that’s not a political statement — it’s preparation. Pastors, congregations and local leaders must stop pretending that Sunday services are immune to the same dangers other public spaces face.
Practical steps leaders should take now
First, praise and support the citizen who called 911 and the off‑duty officer who intervened. Second, churches need real security plans: trained volunteers, professional armed guards where appropriate, tighter perimeter control and a relationship with local law enforcement. Third, prosecutors must use the tools available — pursue the most serious charges, explain them to the public, and ask for detention when the facts justify it. Denying bond in this case was the right move; we should want law enforcement and prosecutors to act decisively so pastors and worshipers can feel safe.
We can argue about causes — social breakdown, untreated criminality, or failed public policy — but arguing won’t put out flames or stop a crossbow bolt. For now, credit the people who did their jobs and demand better from the rest of the system. If you show up to a house of worship carrying a flamethrower and a target list, don’t expect a sympathetic sermon; expect the law to come calling and the full weight of prosecution to follow.
