Two people were killed Friday in a nursing home in Maryland. The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) is deploying crisis-trained chaplains to provide emotional and spiritual support in Capitol Heights, Maryland at the senior living facility.
Just after 9 a.m., a resident of the National Church Residences Gateway Village fatally shot two employees before surrendering to law enforcement. Chaplain support was requested by the National Church Residences Corporate Chaplain, who became familiar with the BG-RRT during a 2018 deployment to Westerville, Ohio.
“With shock and sadness our hearts are grieved to hear of this tragic shooting at a senior living facility where peace and quiet should be the norm,” said Jack Munday, international director of the BG-RRT. “I can’t imagine how difficult and disturbing this must be for the residents and staff. We are honored to send chaplains to provide emotional and spiritual support during this difficult time.”
This is the third deployment in the last two weeks as a result of a shooting. The BG-RRT has deployed 39 times in 2021 and chaplains are currently serving at six locations in four states across the country.
The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team was developed by Franklin Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It has since grown into an international network of chaplains in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia who are specifically trained to deal with crisis situations. They have deployed to more than 550 disaster sites across the globe, including shootings, floods, hurricanes, wildfires and tornadoes.
-CNJ Staff