The doorbell rang at Little Pioneers Preschool just before 2 p.m. Wednesday, and a man asked to be let inside.He had several tattoos on his face, including one under his left eye that reads "FTW," and a large eyeball-looking one on his neck. He carried a brown bag, according to a Pasco County Sheriff's Office report.
School owner Susan Singletary refused to let him in, said sheriff's office spokesman Kevin Doll, and she went into a play room and dialed 911.
But somehow, which wasn't clear today, the man got through the locked door at 6631 Boyette Road. According to the school's website, the doors remain locked for the safety of the children, but parents have a code and may enter at anytime.
There is no indication the man has children who attend the school, Doll said.
While the next few minutes could have gone very wrong, the unwelcomed man would soon be arrested by Pasco deputies without anyone being injured. After getting inside, the intruder went into a play room where Singletary and a teacher stood and he started screaming.
"Don't listen to God. He is not real. Listen to Allah," the man yelled.
He told them not to look at him and he screamed some more, Doll said. "Don't feed those crying babies. Let them die!"
It wasn't clear how many -- if any -- children were nearby. School staff members declined to comment today.
Singletary tried to distract him, Doll said, by asking him what he was carrying in the bag. He took out a multiblade knife which also had brass knuckles attached.
When deputies arrived shortly after, the man was on his knees and appeared to be praying.
"I am the supreme being," he told the deputies. "I wanted to cleanse the babies. I am here through God."
| Let's see: disheveled, tattoos, prison record, talking crazy. Yep, I think I know when he converted and why ... |
| Bail??? |
