Florida deputy finds murder suspect in church; prays with him then arrests him

POLK CITY, Fla. — A man wanted for murder in Hillsborough County, Florida, was located at a church in another county, law enforcement officials in Florida said.

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In a news release, Polk County Sheriff’s Office officials said John Skeen, 56, was arrested in the death of a man in Hillsborough County.

Skeen was wanted for murder after he allegedly shot his friend during a fishing trip on Friday, according to WFLA.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies went to a church in Polk City after they received information that Skeen may be there, the news release read. Deputies were able to get Skeen out of the church without interrupting the service.

Skeen asked one of the deputies if he could back inside the church to “dedicate his life to the Lord before going to jail,” the sheriff’s office said, according to WFLA.

Instead, the officer told Skeen that they could pray together outside the church. According to the sheriff’s office, they did, and then Skeen was taken into custody.

Skeen has been charged with second-degree murder, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, per WFLA.