THREAT INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING Online Threats Against a Pastor, Gov. Lee, and Places of Worship, La Vergne, Tennessee Saturday, October 24, 2026 UNCLASSIFIED // OPEN SOURCE BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT La Vergne, Tennessee police have arrested a local man accused of posting escalating online threats of mass violence. Police say the threats started with family members and grew to name specific targets: Gov. Bill Lee, Pastor Corey Trimble, and places of worship. He faces a felony charge of threat of mass violence. No attack took place, and no specific church has been publicly named. These are allegations. He is presumed innocent. WHAT HAPPENED - Police say the case began when they learned a Williamson County court had issued an order of protection against the man, and officers could not find him to serve it. - Detectives then watched his public online posts and saw the threats escalate. - In the department's words, what began as general threats toward family members and others developed into specific threats involving Gov. Lee, Pastor Corey Trimble, and places of worship. - Police say that growing specificity is why they moved quickly to find him before the words could turn into violence. - The FBI, ATF, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Williamson and Rutherford County sheriff's offices, and Murfreesboro police assisted. THE ACCUSED - A La Vergne resident. Police have not released his name. - Charges: threat of mass violence (felony) and resisting arrest (misdemeanor). CURRENT STATUS - Police announced the arrest on Oct. 22. He was taken into custody after a brief struggle. One officer and two detectives had minor injuries and declined treatment. - After the arrest he was taken for mental health observation and evaluation. - Court dates and bond have not been made public. WHY IT MATTERS FOR CHURCHES HERE This is the pattern safety teams should know by heart. A personal grievance, a protection order, and angry posts online, then the posts start naming people and places. Here a pastor was named by name. The warning signs were public, someone noticed, and police acted before anyone was hurt. Most threats against churches show up somewhere before an attack. Your team needs to be ready to catch them. WHAT YOUR SAFETY TEAM CAN DO 1. If anyone posts a threat that names your pastor, staff, or church, screenshot it with the date, time, account name, and link, and report it to local police and the FBI right away. Do not argue with or reply to the poster. 2. Watch for escalation: general anger that becomes named people, named places, dates, weapons, or talk of "doing something." That shift is the warning sign. 3. Ask staff and members to tell the safety team about protection orders, custody fights, or family disputes that could follow someone to church. 4. Have one person or a small team assigned to take threat reports, keep records, and be the contact for police. 5. Build a relationship with your local police department and FBI field office before you need it. 6. When a threat is reported, brief greeters and parking teams, and consider extra coverage at the next services. Please pray for Pastor Trimble, his family and church, Gov. Lee, and the officers who made this arrest. Details may change as the case moves through court.