GA Teen Accused Of Planning Church Attack: 'I'm Sorry'

GAINESVILLE, GA — A Georgia teen who planned to kill members of a predominantly Black church in Gainesville last year pleaded guilty Thursday to criminal attempt to commit aggravated assault.

According to prosecutors, Caitlyn Pye, 17, had planned a deadly attack on Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in November 2019. That plan, however, was foiled by classmates when they alerted authorities of a notebook belonging to Pye that detailed her plans to kill members of the church.

Authorities said a search of the teen's bag revealed, in addition to the notebook, two knives and T-shirts, one of which said "free Dylann Storm Roof" with swastikas drawn onto the arms.

Roof was the gunman who killed nine Black churchgoers at a Bible study at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, on June 17, 2015.

According to Bishop Reginald T. Jackson, presiding prelate of the Sixth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Pye traveled to Bethel AME on two different occasions with the intent to commit murder, but the church was closed.

Jackson, who appeared in court, believed the teen planned to attend Bible study to replicate at Bethel AME in Gainesville what Roof did five years ago at Mother Emanuel.

"This incident was shocking, frightening, and alarming to the congregation of Bethel Gainesville," Jackson told WSB-TV. "It made the edifice where they worshipped, studied in fellowship, not a refuge but a target, a place of danger."

Despite what could have happened, the bishop told the TV station that he and his congregation forgive Pye for what she planned.

In court, the teen cried as she apologized to church leaders and parishioners, multiple media outlets reported.

“I am very sorry. I want to let you know it was a mistake,” Pye said inside the courtroom.

In court, Pye’s mother said her daughter was "not a monster." Instead, she described her daughter as "a great child” who was shy and didn’t have a lot of friends, the Gainesville Times reported.

“She’s never been taught hate," Pye's mother said.

A judge ultimately sentenced the teen to 10 years probation. She will remain in juvenile detention until she’s 21.

As part of her sentencing, Pye must also comply with the recommendations of psychological evaluations and write a letter of apology to Bethel AME Church, WXIA-TV reports.

After that, she is to have no contact with church members or employees, or go within 150 yards of the church. She may also have no contact with members or employees or any AME church in Georgia, or go within 150 yards of them.