Update: Pistol Packing Pastor Returns Fire on Ex-Employee

When a church janitor in Kissimmee learned his employment had come to an end Tuesday morning, he pulled out a gun and began firing shots at the pastor who had just let him go.

Living Water Fellowship Pastor Terry Howell, however, was packing his own gun, which he pulled out and used to return fire. Unlike the ex-employee, Howell’s bullets struck, leaving the man in critical condition, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.

The incident unfolded early Tuesday morning at the 4101 Pleasant Hill Road church.

“Upon arrival, deputies spoke with witnesses and those involved, who indicated a meeting was taking place to terminate the employment of Benjamin Parangan, a maintenance worker” when the gunshots rang out, the release stated. Those witnesses told detectives Howell defended himself by pulling out his weapon, police said.

Parangan was taken to Osceola Regional Medical Center.

At this point, Howell’s actions are being treated as self-defense. Criminal charges against Parangan, however, have been filed. The sheriff’s office says he’s been charged with aggravated assault with intent to kill. Additional charges are pending further investigation.

Parangan was in stable condition as of Wednesday and will be booked into the Osceola County Jail upon his release from the hospital.

The shooting follows the death of Pastor James “Tripp” Battle in Bradenton earlier this month. Battle was one of the victims of a triple homicide that included two crime scenes. His accused attacker now faces three first-degree murder charges.

See Also:

• Death Penalty Possible in Bradenton Triple Homicide
• Mom Goes to Jail for Shooting Venomous Snake

Image via Shutterstock

Editor’s note: This story was updated Dec. 31 at 4:12 p.m. with information about the criminal charges filed against Benjamin Parangan.