Central, La. — A Louisiana pastor is facing a second-degree battery charge after he confronted a 20-year-old neighbor who allegedly threatened to rape his wife and grandchildren before killing them, according to the pastor’s account and a widely circulated video of the altercation.

Pastor Tony Spell of Life Tabernacle Church in Central crossed Hooper Road on Tuesday morning, June 23, after the young man, identified as the son of neighbor Scott Sherwin, began shouting vulgarities and threats from across the street while Spell worked on a church bus.

In a Wednesday press conference outside his church, Spell quoted the man directly: “Tony, I’m going to rape your wife, I’m going to rape all of your grandchildren, and the next time you go out of town, I’m going to kill them, and what the F are you going to do about it?”

“I can’t allow a man to rape my wife. I can’t allow a man to rape my grandchildren. I will not allow a man to murder my children when I’m gone,” Spell said. “As a man, as a father, and as a pastor, I can’t allow that.”

Video of the confrontation appears to show the 20-year-old swinging first at Spell. The pastor then takes the younger man to the ground and delivers repeated strikes while the two grapple on the grassy shoulder of the road. Spell’s attorney and supporters have described the incident as clear self-defense after the neighbor initiated physical contact.

Spell, a well-known figure for keeping his church open during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns despite government orders, framed his actions in biblical terms during the press conference.“I’m a pastor who shepherds his flock,” he said. “It’s not the job of the sheep to attack the wolves; it’s the job of the shepherd to protect his sheep.”

He added that he has an obligation “as a natural protector to my wife and to my grandchildren who were threatened murder, who were threatened rape.”

East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s deputies arrested Spell on one count of second-degree battery. He was booked into jail and bonded out the same day on a $25,000 bond. His first court appearance is scheduled for September 15.

The Sherwin family has disputed Spell’s account of the threats and released a video showing the pastor running across the street toward the young man, who was reportedly recording the approach on his cellphone. Scott Sherwin has described an ongoing neighborhood feud dating back to the COVID era and accused Spell of playing the victim.

Spell’s attorney noted long-standing complaints from the church about harassment and pointed to large surveillance cameras installed by the Sherwin family that he said can view deep into the church property, including the pulpit.

The incident has sparked strong online support for the pastor, with many viewers citing the video evidence of the neighbor throwing the first punch and the gravity of the alleged threats as justification for Spell’s response. Supporters have praised him for standing up to protect his family and congregation.

Spell, who has faced previous legal challenges tied to his refusal to close the church in 2020, told reporters after bonding out that he was heading straight back to the pulpit.“

The truth will come out in court,” he said.The case continues to draw attention as both sides prepare for legal proceedings.