Beloved Bishop Teman L. Bostic Sr. of California was stabbed to death Friday morning. Police arrested his 21-year-old son, Isaiah Bostic, in connection with the murder.
Teman Bostic was bishop of Mt. Olive Apostolic Original Holy Church of God in Menlo Park and president of Crime Prevention Narcotics Drug Education Center. He also coached community basketball and was involved in the Rotary Club.
San Leandro police were called to the preacher’s apartment early Friday morning after a neighbor reported hearing yelling and loud commotion next door.
Police Lt. Robert McManus told San Jose Mercury News (SJMN) that the neighbor called after hearing someone screaming. The neighbor told them someone was “saying he did not want to die.”
The police found the pastor dead from lethal stab wounds and his son Isaiah covered in blood nearby. The son had been living in his father’s San Leandro apartment before the suspected homicide. Police arrested Isaiah and officials plan to file a case against him in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office this week.
The bishop’s family, community and church struggle to make sense of the sudden loss of their beloved pastor.
“With heavy hearts we announce the untimely passing of our father, and pastor, Bishop Teman L. Bostic Sr.,” announced the church in a Facebook post. “He evangelized nationally and internationally. He will be greatly missed. We are soliciting your prayers during our time of great loss.”
“He was warmhearted and warm-spirited, a joy to be around,” said Pastor Apostle Ross Garrison Jr., longtime friend of Bostic in an interview with SJMN. “You couldn’t get none better than this real disciple of Jesus Christ.”
