A Hawaiian man was shot in the back just after his baptism, according to several reports. While the woman holding the gun aimed to take the man’s life, God had other plans.
Tali Talitonu had just been baptized in a mass celebration when the bullet struck him. Within moments, though, a church elder apprehended the shooter. Paramedics treated Talitonu before they delivered him to the hospital in stable condition.
Congregation members hailed the church elder as a hero.
“As soon as I heard the bang, I turned around and he already had her,” said Sam Tauolo, a church member who was also baptized that day. “The church (service) had just ended, so everybody was coming out. Anybody could have been hit.”
According to KHON, police arrested 59-year-old Violesolo Tavita, who reportedly knew her victim.
“Our love goes out to the victim and also to the person that caused this,” Tauolo said. “All we can do is continue to pray for them.”
