North Wales Church Shooter's Appeal Rejected

NORTH WALES, PA — The prison sentence for the Lansdale man who shot an "agitated" churchgoer to death in 2016 has been upheld by the state's appeals court, court documents confirm.

Mark Storms, 47, had previously pleaded not guilty to the voluntary manslaughter charge after the incident which led to the death of Robert Braxton, 27, of North Wales. He was found guilty of both voluntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment and sentenced to 10 to 20 years behind bars for the incident last April.

In his appeal, Storms and his counsel argued that he should not have been convicted last year because the prosecution failed to disprove the notion that he had been acting out of self-defense. He said the court had overlooked his age and cooperation with police in both his conviction and ultimate sentencing.

In rejecting his appeal, the state Superior Court recounted Storms' reference during his trial to three incidents in his past in which had interfered in other events "which could have caused his death to save others."

"(Storms') actions during those occasions were "problematic" because (he) perceived himself as some type of hero that injects himself into certain situations," the court ruled. "All I know is that I believe you are a danger to society."

Judge Carolyn Nichols wrote in her decision that the length of the sentence is slightly longer than guidelines set forth for similar cases, but that was due to the impact of the death of Braxton on his family, and Storms' notions of vigilantism.

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The shooting occurred during a church service at the Keystone Fellowship Church almost two years ago, on April 24, 2016.

Braxton reportedly became disruptive during the service, and Storms, who had no official position with the church, accosted him. He showed a concealed weapons permit and the gun, and told Braxton to leave the church, according to the district attorney's office.

Authorities said that's when Braxton hit Storm in the face. And then Storm fired two shots at Braxton.

According to more than 50 witness interviews, Braxton was "agitated" and "verbally disruptive" when he arrived at the church that morning, the DA's office said.

In his original trial, Storm's attorneys used a self-defense argument, while prosecutors pitted him as a vigilante who did not regret his actions.

Storms had also been found guilty of reckless endangerment back in November of 2016.

Image via Montgomery County District Attorney's Office