Man reports firing shots at 2 'suspicious people' at Burnet County church: BCSO

A man was arrested for reporting a fake story to law enforcement after he fired shots at a Burnet County church on Sunday.

On Monday, Oct. 7, the Burnet County Sheriff's Office said 45-year-old Jacob Tarver was arrested and charged with false report to induce an emergency response, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, and deadly conduct.

He is in the Burnet County Jail awaiting a hearing to set bail.

Original report from BCSO on Oct. 6

Law enforcement is on high alert after two armed suspects fled from outside a Burnet County church on Sunday morning, heading north.

The Burnet County Sheriff's Office says that just after 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 6, deputies responded to the Church at the Epicenter on N US 281 for a welfare check due to an unknown 911 call.

BCSO dispatch reported a man had called 911, gave the address to the church, requested police response, then hung up.

When deputies arrived, it "became clear" that shots had been fired, but that all of them came from someone with the church's volunteer safety team, says BCSO.

The safety team member stated that he confronted two suspicious men outside the church, one of whom presented a rifle, says BCSO. The safety team member fired multiple rounds, causing both men to get in a white minivan and flee the scene, driving north on US 281.

No injuries have been reported at this time, according to BCSO.

MORE CRIME COVERAGE

BCSO says it is working with a number of state and federal agencies on the investigation into this incident.

The Lampasas Police Department says it was informed by the Burnet County Sheriff's Office on Oct. 6 about the incident.

LPD says it has called in additional staff and supervision to patrol the city, specifically the churches, and is coordinating with other local law enforcement agencies. 

Burnet CountyCrime and Public Safety