In case you begin to hear about this in the news, I want you to have accurate details about an incident that happened at about 3:30pm Wednesday afternoon here at Twin Lakes Church. There was an altercation between two individuals on the far side of campus, next to Cabrillo College. They were in line waiting for our free food distribution (People’s Pantry) when one of them began assaulting the other in order to gain his place in line.

The aggressive individual then entered his car to leave and one of our regular volunteers saw a firearm in the vehicle. TLC staff were already in communication with law enforcement at the time and immediately alerted them to the presence of a firearm and provided a description of the vehicle and the driver that was leaving campus. 

Although the individual was not making threats toward the church or school, a security lockdown was then initiated using procedures we regularly practice with our school and church staff members.

Sheriff’s Office deputies assigned to Cabrillo College arrived within one minute and began searching for the suspect and making sure the surrounding schools were safe. Within a few minutes, a deputy spotted the individual and his vehicle in the 8000 block of Soquel Drive. Deputies stopped and arrested him, searched the car, and found an unloaded handgun.

The suspect, Charles Russell, remains in custody, charged with possession of a firearm near a school campus, brandishing a firearm, battery, threats, and using a firearm in the commission of a felony.

We are all so grateful for the lightning-quick response of the Sheriff deputies. This is one of the blessings of our campus being directly across the street from the Cabrillo Sheriff substation: In the very rare times we have had to call law enforcement they have been on campus almost instantly! I am also grateful for the calm and professional implementation of our own lockdown procedures by our school and church staff. Like most schools and churches today, we practice lockdown drills for exactly such incidents. 

Our Executive Pastor, Mark Spurlock, reviewed this incident with Santa Cruz Assistant Chief of Police, Dan Flippo, at a previously scheduled campus safety meeting Thursday afternoon. The purpose of these on-going safety meetings is to ensure that we are continually adapting and strengthening our security protocols.

And let’s also remember to pray for Charles Russell. Our hope is that God works in his life to transform him and to lead him into a vital relationship with Jesus Christ.

If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Particularly if you were on campus at the time and would like to talk through what happened or have any concerns, we would be happy to talk with you.

René Schlaepfer