Lansdale Man Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison For Church Shooting

LANSDALE, PA -- A Lansdale man responsible for the 2016 fatal shooting at a Montgomery Township church will spend the next 20 years behind bars, according to court documents.

Mark Storms, 46, 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.

The shooting occurred during a church service at the Keystone Fellowship Church almost exactly one year 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.

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.

Image via Montgomery County District Attorney's Office