San Mateo man arrested after threatening churchgoer

In recent events in California, a serious incident involving threats against a church member has been reported. Alexi El Kadi, a 50-year-old man from Belmont, was arrested after allegedly making specific threats against a person scheduled to attend Mass at Our Lady of Lebanon, a Maronite Catholic Church in Millbrae. The situation escalated when a concerned resident reported El Kadi's threatening social media post to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, prompting immediate police response. Deputies acted swiftly to ensure the safety of the community and apprehended El Kadi without incident, stressing the importance of vigilance in reporting suspicious activity. Following the arrest, authorities took further precautions to prevent any potential violence. A Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO) was issued against El Kadi, which prohibits him from owning or accessing any firearms or ammunition for an initial period of 21 days. This order can potentially be extended for up to five years depending on subsequent court proceedings. The Sheriff's Office highlighted the seriousness of threats against places of worship, with Sheriff Christina Corpus emphasizing that such behavior would not be tolerated in the San Mateo County community. In a separate incident, a similar concern was raised involving Joshua Michael Richardson, a 38-year-old man from Alabama. He was reported to have made threats towards St. Michael's Abbey, a Catholic monastery located in Silverado Canyon, and was later found in possession of dangerous weapons including body armor and high-capacity magazines. This incident, alongside the threats made by El Kadi, has highlighted a troubling trend of increasing violence and threats against religious institutions across the country. Authorities continue to urge the public to report any suspicious behaviors or threats, to prevent crime before it occurs. The swift action taken in the cases of both El Kadi and Richardson underscores the need for communities to remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding places of worship. With these incidents occurring in a climate where religious institutions are vulnerable to targeted acts of violence, it is essential that authorities and the public work together to ensure the safety of individuals attending religious services.