Married couple charged after Grace New Covenant Church shooting

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A man and woman have been arrested and charged more than a week after a shooting inside Grace New Covenant Church in Bellefontaine Neighbors.

The shooting happened during noon service on July 14, in the church hallway. The church is located near Chambers Road and Crete Drive.

According to the Bellefontaine Neighbors Police Department’s probable cause statement, no one was injured but shots were exchanged between a suspect and a church security guard.

Police said Derick A. Williams, 34, approached the guard from behind and put a gun to his head. The guard was able to grab Williams and a struggle ensued. The two men separated and the guard ran to alert the pastor in a private room. When the guard stuck his head out of the room, he saw Williams pointing a gun in this direction. The guard ducked back into the room as Williams fired and missed. The guard returned fire in Williams’ direction and Williams left the building.

The guard followed Williams outside the building and saw his wife, Dana D. Williams, 34, pointing a gun at him and another guard. The Williamses gathered their children and left the church.

Senior Pastor Earnest Howard told FOX 2 that day that he followed their active shooter procedures, and his first thoughts were to get everyone to safety.

On July 22, police arrested Derick and Dana Williams at their home on Oriole Avenue.

The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Derick with first-degree assault, armed criminal action, and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon. He’s being held without bond. Dana was charged with two counts of unlawful use of a weapon. She’s been jailed on a $75,000 bond.

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