Pastor Haynes attributes his quick and courageous response to his faith.
Sharon Koehn, one of the potential victims of the attack, gratefully acknowledged Pastor Haynes' intervention, telling KTRK, "If it wasn't for him, we'd probably be dead." The incident, which transpired on June 15, started when Haynes and his wife heard the desperate calls of their neighbor, Sharon, from her home.
Recounting the sequence of events to Fox News Digital, Haynes explained, "I started running over [to the neighbor's home], thinking I'm responding to the medical emergency. And then she starts yelling as she's coming down the sidewalk that [a suspect] is attacking her husband." The situation quickly escalated from an anticipated medical emergency to an attack, prompting Haynes to adapt swiftly to the alarming circumstances.
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On reaching the neighbors' residence, Haynes noticed the front door slam shut. Nevertheless, he could see the unsettling scene unfolding inside through a window. Earl Koehn, an 85-year-old man with dementia, was lying on the floor with a coat rack on his chest, and a man, later identified as 54-year-old Shane Jennings, was rifling through his pockets.
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June 26, 2023
Haynes began pounding on the door and shouting at Jennings, who responded as if he were a house resident, saying, "I'll be right there." Haynes persisted, yelling, "I can see you," forcing Jennings to cease his actions and retreat towards the back of the house.
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Amidst the chaos, Haynes had the presence of mind to pull out his phone and start recording the scene, knowing that the potential threat of a weapon could be neutralized by the visual recording and possibly deter Jennings from becoming more violent.
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In the recorded video, Haynes confronts Jennings, saying, "Hey, what do you think you're doing, man? You're beating that man up." The pastor then demands that Jennings relinquish the keys to the Koehns' pickup truck and other items he was holding.
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Despite Jennings' attempt to escape, Haynes restrained him momentarily by holding his T-shirt collar. Amid the tussle, Jennings pleaded that he did not attack the couple and claimed he could not breathe.
"I know my wife called the police," Haynes stated. His goal was to keep Jennings contained without further escalation, keeping a watchful eye on him around the truck. Haynes' wife, Amber, was also present, ready to assist if Jennings tried to flee.
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During the confrontation, Haynes failed to notice that Jennings still possessed a pair of keys. The pastor was caught off guard when Jennings abruptly jumped into the vehicle and recklessly drove it through a fence, sideswiped the house, collided with another parked car in the driveway, ran over some trash cans, and sped off down the road.
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The authorities subsequently apprehended Jennings the same day after a brief pursuit, during which Jennings reportedly collided with a police vehicle. He is now facing six felony charges, including aggravated assault of an elderly person and assault of a peace officer, according to KTRK.
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Miraculously, despite the harrowing incident, the Koehns sustained no serious injuries and are recovering. Haynes revealed that this was not the first time Jennings had targeted the elderly couple. A few weeks before the incident, Earl had mentioned being mugged. Although his family initially dismissed the incident due to his dementia, they now believe there may have been truth in his account.
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As for Pastor Haynes, he credits his courageous intervention to his deep-rooted faith. He elucidated his perspective to Fox News Digital, stating, "As a Christ follower, or someone who's experienced the redeeming love of Jesus, is that He showed me what love looks like. It says: 'There is no greater love than this – than the one who lays down their life for his friend.'"
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He continued, reflecting on the selfless act that his faith encourages, "Jesus did that for me. He gave His life for me. And so I've been shown that kind of selfless, sacrificial love."
While recognizing his instinct for self-preservation, Haynes emphasized that the defining factor behind his actions was "something that's deeper inside."
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The pastor also believed in divine intervention's role in the incident. He shared that he and his wife were in a room where they typically don't sit, which allowed them to hear Sharon's calls for help. He also credits his faith for keeping Jennings from escalating the situation further and causing more harm to the Koehns or others.
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Haynes concluded his account by expressing his hopes for Jennings' future: "I hope he finds forgiveness and grace and Jesus in prison, but he's not going to get there without facing some bottom." He added, "He's going to have to hit the bottom. I hope somehow this system helps him get there. He needs to face some consequences."
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This harrowing incident is a potent reminder of the power of community, courage, and faith. Amid the chaos, Pastor Haynes demonstrated the impact of acting selflessly, inspired by his deep-rooted belief, saving the lives of his vulnerable neighbors and capturing evidence leading to the arrest of the alleged perpetrator. His heroic intervention has been a testament to his faith and the guiding principle of selfless love, bringing forth an incredible narrative of courage and resilience in the face of danger.
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