Watch CBS News

2 Men Robbed And Beaten Outside Southeast Baltimore Church

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Baltimore Police are searching for a group of teen gunmen who attacked and robbed church members getting ready for Easter. Now parishioners are afraid to go to services at their own church.

Meghan McCorkell has the latest on the investigation.

The church community remains shaken with those gunmen still on the loose.

Easter services are underway this week inside Transfiguration of our Lord Russian Orthodox Church in Butchers Hill. But the congregation is a lot smaller than usual.

"We're not feeling safe enough to come to church services anymore," said Anton Marx, Transfiguration of our Lord Russian Orthodox Church.

Wednesday night, two church members were violently robbed right outside the church. It was around 10 p.m. Ion Barbus, the priest's son, says he and a friend came outside after helping prepare the church for Easter.

The two were approached by six armed teenagers.

"The guy just kind of pulled out his gun and pointed it at us like that," Barbus said.

The group robbed Barbus of money and his cell phone and then began beating his friend more than a dozen times over the head.

"It was two guys and they both had, from what I saw, closed fists, and from what he told me, and they were just hitting him," said Barbus.

Barbus' father heard the commotion and came outside. The teens pointed the gun at the priest before running off.

Investigators are now going door-to-door in the neighborhood, searching for anyone who may have witnessed the incident.

WJZ was there as detectives interviewed the victims. Now church officials are asking police to step up patrols in the area.

"To have somebody come down and be stationary while we have our services," Marx said.

So they can worship without worrying.

Officers did canvass the area after the robbery, but they were not able to track down the suspects.

The man who was beaten is expected to be OK.

Other Local News:

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.