A local family and church congregation are in mourning and searching for answers following the murder of a popular North Texas pastor.
The murder of 54-year-old Danny Kirk took place inside the Forest Hill church he founded. Police said Kirk was beaten to death with an electric guitar. The suspect, identified by family members as Derrick Birdow, later died after police used a stun gun to restrain him.
Tuesday morning, Greater Sweethome Missionary Baptist Church reopened. Family and church members said they're trying to carry on the legacy of the slain pastor.
"We still have a lot of work to do at the church to make sure the church goes on. I know that's what my son would want, he would want the church to go on," said Pastor Kirk's father-in-law, Melvin McClendson.
McClendson is grieving over the murder of his son-in-law. There's a huge hole in McClendson's heart, the church that Kirk founded, and the pastor's family. His wife is still in shock.
"She woke up this morning, and it all hit her all over again. She's pretty much devastated. We all are," said McClendson.
Investigators said a man rammed his car into the front door starting a violent rampage. Police believe a 33-year-old man beat a church maintenance worker and broke his jaw. The man then chased Kirk into the music room, grabbed an electric guitar as a weapon and used it to murder the pastor.
Officers said they had to use a stun-gun to disable the man. Around 10 minutes later, officers said they went to check on him in the back of a squad car and he wasn't breathing. He was declared dead at the hospital.
Now, church leaders are working to find forgiveness.
"We have to forgive that man and pray for his family because we can't hold that in our hearts," said associate minister James Spann.
Tuesday night, bible study will go on as planned at the church.
The medical examiner is investigating the suspect's cause of death. Despite the man's name being released by family, police have not officially released the suspect's name.
Birdlow, the man identified by his family members as the suspect, has a criminal history including possession of a controlled substance in 1999, domestic assault in 2000, driving while intoxicated in 2004 and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, also in 2004.
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