This week, the individuals suspected of robbing a bishop during a live-streamed sermon on Sunday were the subject of fresh photos and footage published by the New York police. According to the police, the guys allegedly took jewels valued at $1 million from Bishop Lamor Whitehead and his wife, Bishop Asia DosReis-Whitehead.
Whitehead told CBS New York, “I’m excited and I’m hoping and praying that they get all three of them. “I’m sure someone will know them in the neighborhood they’re from,” I said.
Three males are seen in the pictures with mostly-covered faces and dark attire. Minutes before the heist, they can be seen strolling toward a building in the 19-second footage, according to the police.
Whitehead was live broadcasting a church session on Sunday when three males entered the Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministry in Brooklyn just before 11:15 a.m., according to the NYPD. Before snatching their jewels, the guys “displayed weapons and demanded property” from the 44-year-old and his 38-year-old wife, according to the police.
“I said, ‘Alright, alright, alright,’ pretty much stating that I’m not going to do anything because I know you’re coming for me. You’re coming straight to me. I don’t want my parishioner’s to be hurt. I’ve got women and children there,” Whitehead said, according to CBS New York.
“As I got down, one went to my wife and took all her jewelry and had the gun in front of my 8-month-old baby’s face,” Whitehead added. “Took off my bishop’s ring, my wedding band and took off my bishop’s chain, and then I had chains underneath my robe and he started tapping my neck to see if anything else. So that means they knew. They watched and they knew that I have other jewelry.”
According to Whitehead, the event has left roughly 100 of his congregation members “traumatized,” according to CBS New York. According to the station, he gave the NYPD $50,000 as a reward for information that resulted in the arrest of the offenders.
Anyone with information on the heist is urged to contact the NYPD at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or 1-888-57-PISTA for Spanish-speaking callers (74782). On Twitter, you may DM @NYPDTips with your tip or submit one through their website. All conversations are kept private.