Antonio Henry & 16 Year Old Boy Arrested in Violent Murder of Pastor David Strong in Chattanooga

Police have charged Antonio Henry, 25, and a 16 year old boy in the violent murder of Pastor David Strong of St. Paul AME Church in Chattanooga. According to the Tennessean, Strong was found beaten, strangled and stabbed in his home after the pair were discovered driving his car. Both were charged with felony murder, especially aggravated homicide in his death, as well as robbing him, according to the newspaper.

Police found the body Saturday after receiving a report that the pastor’s car was possibly stolen. Police said when they stopped the car Saturday morning, Henry was driving. The name of the 16-year-old has not been released. Police said there is no record of Henry or the teen hiring lawyers.

Strong had previously worked in Nashville. He had been a pastor at both Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church on Elm Hill Pike and then at St. Matthews AME, according to Clement Fugh, the General Secretary and Chief Informational Officer of the African Methodist Episcopal Church worldwide office that is based in Nashville. Source

Once again, we have criminals roaming the streets freely, hellbent on inflicting pain and anguish on the relatives of their victims. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of this pastor. There is no justification or explanation for this unspeakable act of violence that claimed his life.