A Maryland pastor alerted authorities after an 87-year-old congregant allegedly came to church and confessed to killing his roommate, according to charging documents.
Irwin Joseph Dickstein reportedly asked another man to drive him to Frederick Christian Fellowship Church on Sept. 20 because he needed to speak with a pastor.
After arriving at the church, Dickstein allegedly told an associate pastor that he had killed someone. The pastor contacted authorities around 10:30 a.m., bringing a Frederick County sheriff’s deputy to the church, ABC7 News reported.
The pastor described Dickstein as a congregant, according to the charging documents. Authorities have not publicly identified the pastor.
Investigators also spoke with the man who drove Dickstein to the church. The driver said Dickstein admitted to “killing his roommate, known to him as Michael,” according to charging documents cited by FOX 5 DC.
The driver also told investigators that Dickstein had placed a gray suitcase in his vehicle. Authorities later recovered a handgun from the case.
The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office notified Frederick police, who conducted a welfare check at Dickstein’s home in the unit block of Franklin Street. Officers found the residence unsecured and discovered 63-year-old Michael Roy Bushnell dead on the bathroom floor.
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Bushnell had suffered multiple gunshot wounds, according to ABC7.
A neighbor told investigators that the two roommates had argued before the shooting. Bushnell reportedly turned off the electricity while Dickstein was attempting to repair an outlet, angering Dickstein.
The neighbor also reported hearing several loud bangs coming from the direction of the residence around 5:30 a.m.
Police located Dickstein away from the home and took him into custody without incident. He has been charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder.
Frederick police described the shooting as an “isolated incident” and said there was “no ongoing threat to the community.” The investigation remains active.
Dickstein is being held without bond at the Frederick County Adult Detention Center. A public defender requested a competency evaluation, and a hearing is scheduled for Oct. 13.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
