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A nearly century-old church in Boyle Heights returned to a normal day of piety just hours after LAPD cleared out following a deadly standoff in one of the building's hallways, according to The Eastsider LA.
Rev. Eliseo Morales arrived early this morning to his Boyle Heights church - El Divino Salvador Presbyterian - to oversee its transition from deadly crime scene back into a house of worship. The last of the LAPD officials who were investigating Saturday afternoon’s deadly shooting in the church hallway left at 6 a.m. only a few hours before children and their families would stream into El Divino Salvador for Sunday school classes and services.
Saturday's 90-minute standoff began when a man entered the empty church after jumping from an ambulance that was transporting him from jail to seek medical treatment. Responding officers were attacked by the suspect wielding a knife taken from the church's kitchen. The suspect was shot and killed after stabbing an officer in the arm
A janitor would have otherwise been on the premises of El Divino Salvador Presbyterian at the time, but had been delayed that day. Although it was unclear whether the front doors were locked, an alarm reportedly went off when the suspect entered the building.
Today's sermon: "Giving the Best to God."
