Man arrested for making threats against church members

WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) – A Wichita Falls man has been charged with terroristic threats after threatening several current or former members of Grace Church, according to court documents.

The first report was filed in August 2023 with the Wichita Falls Police Department. The alleged incident occurred on August 15, 2023 at a local restaurant in the 4500 block of Maplewood Avenue. In the report, two victims, Victim #1 and Victim #2, were having dinner with friends when 68-year-old Thomas Barber walked up to their table and said, “If it wasn’t for this guy, you’d be dead,” pointing at Barbers Father.

Police spoke with both victims, who said they were long-time members of Grace Church and said Barber was a member several years ago. Police also spoke to a witness who described Barber as “extremely upset” during the incident. Victim #1 and Victim #2 told officers they feared Barber would kill them.

Another terrorist threat report was recorded last month on April 8th. In this report, a victim, referred to as Victim #3, was having breakfast with a friend at a local restaurant in the 4500 block of Maplewood Avenue on April 6. During the meal, their waitress told them that Barber had stated he was “going to kill him,” referring to Victim #3.

Police spoke to the waitress about the incident. She confirmed that Barber was sitting at a separate table and asked her if Victim #3 came in every Saturday. The waitress confirmed that Victim #3 was a regular customer and said Barber then asked if Victim #3 came in at the same time every Saturday. The waitress said yes and then told police that Barber said, “Okay, because I’m going to kill him.”

The waitress told officers she saw Barber walk up to the table where Victim No. 3 was sitting, say a few words and then leave. Victim No. 3 told investigators he was afraid Barber would go to his vehicle to get a gun. Victim #3 said he attended Grace Church several years ago when Barber was also in attendance. But victim #3 has since left the church. However, Victim #3 believed that Barber still thought he was a member of the church.

Investigators spoke with an acquaintance of Barber’s who told them he was a long-time friend of Barber’s and would have lunch with him weekly. That acquaintance said on several occasions that Barber made statements about wanting to harm and kill members of Grace Church. He told investigators that Barber made numerous adamant statements: “If my father dies, I will kill her,” referring to members of Grace Church. The acquaintance said Barber told him directly, “I’m going to kill everyone (expletive) at Grace Church.” The acquaintance said Barber was “mad” at everyone who attended the church and they were all “targets” for Barber .

On April 24, WFPD received information that Barber had made threatening statements to additional church members at a local business in the 3700 block of Maplewood Avenue. A witness told police Barber came into the store on April 10 and the witness greeted him in the lobby. The witness told police that Barber said, “I promised my parents that I wouldn’t harm or kill anyone while I was alive.” Barber further mentioned that since his father’s death, he has nothing else to live for . The witness said Barber then made detailed statements about his anger toward the church and mentioned another person, referred to as Victim No. 4, by name. The witness told police she alerted Grace Church leaders to Barber’s statements.

Investigators went to Grace Church to speak with two additional people, referred to as Victim #5 and Victim #6, who are religious leaders at the church. They told police they became aware of Barber’s numerous statements about wanting to kill church members. Therefore, they implemented increased security measures. They told police they were in constant fear that Barber could come into the church at any time and commit an act of mass violence.

Police also spoke with someone called Victim No. 7, who said he told his family members to stay away from their home because they feared Barber would come to their house and follow up on his threats.

Based on the investigation, WFPD says it is clear that Barber targeted members of Grace Church and threatened them while they were in public. This behavior causes victims to live in a constant state of “constant fear,” according to court documents.

Barber was booked into the Wichita County Jail on Monday, May 6. At the time of this article’s publication, he was behind bars on a $20,000 bond.

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