Larpenter said the man never pointed the gun or threatened anyone, but multiple families were concerned and left the service. He said Ledet also left and was stopped in his car near the church.
After his arrest, Ledet was treated for a bullet wound to his leg, which he told investigators he’d done at his home Saturday.
Online jail records show he was arrested on charges of terrorizing, illegal use of a weapon and failure to appear in court. The sheriff said Ledet had outstanding warrants on unrelated charges of drunken driving and carrying an open container of alcohol.
Under state law, terrorizing includes causing evacuation of a building or “other serious disruption to the general public.”
Criminal defense attorney Donald “Chick” Foret of River Ridge, who is not connected to the case, said in an email that, “based on the limited facts” in the news release, there appears to be probable cause for an arrest. The district attorney will decide, after further investigation, whether to formally charge him.
It was not clear whether Ledet has an attorney.
The incident occurred as religious congregations nationwide are concentrating on safety after a season of violence, from the June killings of nine people at a historically Black church in Charleston, South Carolina, to the killings this month in San Bernardino, California.
Larpenter said he was bringing two counts of illegal use of a weapon _ one for the shooting Saturday and one for the church _ because a domestic violence conviction makes it illegal for Ledet to carry a gun.
The sheriff’s spokeswoman did not immediately respond to calls and an email Monday requesting further details.
The church’s pastor, the Very Rev. Vincente N. De La Cruz, could not be reached for comment Monday.
Although Louisiana law allows church members to carry concealed handguns for security purposes, Louisiana’s bishops have barred such details in Roman Catholic churches.
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