2 charged after bringing gun in backpack to church

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Two people were charged after they entered a church Sunday with a backpack that had a gun inside of it, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officials said.

Michael Brandon Blake, 27, and Austin Nathaniel Hannon, 16, entered the First Haitian Church of Grace on West Sugar Creek Road with a backpack.

A church leader called CMPD at about 12 p.m. to report them. Leaders told officers that the pair had asked to speak with someone at the church to pray.

The leaders said Blake and Hannon had been acting suspicious. The majority of them did not want to disrupt the service, so they did not ask the officers to speak with the two.

Officers left the church but stayed in the area. At about 1:30 p.m., a church leader called the officers back to the church.

The leader told officers that when they asked Blake and Hannon what they had in their backpack, they admitted that a gun was inside of it. A leader held the weapon until the police arrived.

Officers took the pair to the North Division team office for questioning and officials charged Blake with carrying a concealed weapon, and Hannon with possession of a firearm by a minor and carrying a concealed weapon.

Police said that the interviews revealed the men did not have any malicious intent and did not intend to hurt anyone at any time.

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