Ninja pastor takes down axe-wielding church burglar

On Thanksgiving morning, Pastor Nick Neves of First Family Church in Antioch, California, confronted a burglar who had broken into the church using an axe. The suspect had smashed a window and propped open a door, triggering a burglar alarm.

Upon receiving the alarm notification, Pastor Neves went to the church to investigate. According to NBC News, he discovered the intruder attempting to leave with stolen items, including an armful of food. When confronted, the burglar tried to flee. Pastor Neves shouted at him to stop, informing him that he was under citizen's arrest, but the suspect attempted to escape.

Drawing on his martial arts background, which includes training in jiu-jitsu and kickboxing, Pastor Neves pursued the burglar into the parking lot. The two engaged in a physical struggle that lasted approximately 15 minutes. "I was able to pin him to the ground and he got up and tried to get away several times, but basically I was just trying to wear him out because I knew I could outlast him," Pastor Neves told NBC News.

"It was never my goal to hurt the man or to do him harm. I was just hoping to keep him from getting away so that justice could be done, and our church could be protected," he said, as reported by The Straits Times. He added, "I did my best just to subdue him without doing any harm to him," according to NBC News.

Fox News reported that the Antioch Police Department recovered the axe used by the suspect at the scene. The police arrived after Pastor Neves had managed to restrain the burglar, taking the man into custody. The suspect is being held on charges of burglary, robbery, and battery, though his name has not been released, according to The Washington Times.

Reflecting on the incident, Pastor Neves credited his martial arts training for helping him control the situation. "I practice jiu-jitsu and did a little bit of kickboxing training in the past so I know how to defend myself," he told Fox News Digital. He noted, "You train for years and years and you never really have to use it if you are a person of peace—you are not trying to get into trouble with anybody, but it's there if you need it and, thankfully, this guy who was trying to do me harm didn't have the training I had, and so I was able to basically neutralize his attacks," as reported by Fox News.

The Antioch Police Department commented on the event, stating, "When the burglar saw his wicked deeds had been discovered he decided to fight with the pastor instead of repent." They added, "What he did not know was that the pastor would win this battle of good and evil and he held down the perp until APD arrived and placed the man in custody," as reported by Fox News.

Pastor Neves expressed hope for the suspect's repentance. "God was very gracious and protected me," he said. "Hopefully the guy can think about his crimes and his sins and hopefully repent," according to Fox News. 

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq