Texas Man Shows Up at Church With Rifle

SEAGOVILLE, TX — A man who allegedly tried to enter a church in Seagoville with a tactical rifle has been charged with a federal firearm crime.

According to the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas’ Leigha Simonton, Russell Alan Ragsdale, 25, was arrested on November 22 and charged with possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance. On November 25, he made his initial court appearance.

According to court documents, Ragsdale entered a church around 20 miles southeast of Dallas on November 2 at around 5:05 p.m. during a mass attended by around 100 parishioners. After briefly sitting in the front row, Ragsdale walked up to the priest, kissed him on both cheeks, and handed him a note that read, "May peace be with you." He left the church shortly after, at 5:13 p.m.

Minutes later, he returned to his car, put on a black-and-white poncho, and allegedly retrieved a rifle from his trunk. Ragsdale was said to have locked the gates of the church parking lot before allegedly attempting to re-enter the church at 5:35 p.m. with the rifle. Ragsdale was unable to enter because another church member had locked the doors. He remained outside for several minutes as a member talked with him until authorities arrived.

During his arrest, officers seized the rifle and noted the smell of alcohol on Ragsdale’s breath. His girlfriend later told police that Ragsdale was a parishioner at the church and mentioned he sometimes took medication to help him sleep.

Further investigation revealed that Ragsdale had a history of drug use and was involved in a previous, now-dismissed, felony murder case. In February 2022, Ragsdale was arrested in Seagoville for the murder of his roommate, though the case was dismissed. Ragsdale told law enforcement that his roommate had attacked him and claimed he “shot him many times” in self-defense. Officers recovered three firearms, including a 10mm Glock and an AR-15 rifle, and almost two grams of hallucinogenic mushrooms from the residence.

Police had recovered the firearms and hallucinogenic mushrooms from the scene of the 2022 incident. A later analysis of Ragsdale's phone showed a history of drug use, including the purchase and consumption of hallucinogenic mushrooms before the murder. In his messages, Ragsdale told a friend he took “2gs” of something “potent.” An interview with the victim’s friend revealed that the victim and Ragsdale had consumed mushrooms together shortly before he was killed.

A criminal complaint is an allegation of criminal activity, not evidence. Like all defendants, Russell Ragsdale is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

If convicted, Ragsdale could face up to 15 years in federal prison.