Funeral Service Erupts into Gunfire and Stabbing, Wounding 2

A funeral meant to honor the life of a beloved matriarch turned into absolute chaos when a brawl broke out among family members—ending with one man stabbed and a woman grazed by gunfire.

The shocking incident happened at the Gospel Lighthouse Apostolic Church in Hartford, Connecticut, where around 150 mourners gathered to pay tribute to 89-year-old Ida Hawkins-Green. But the solemn mood exploded into mayhem as fists flew, bullets tore through the air, and terrified mourners stampeded out of the building.

“You can imagine what 150 people scrambling out of the church looked like,” said Lt. Aaron Boisvert of the Hartford Police Department. Officers confirmed gunfire rang out both inside and outside the church, leaving the interior riddled with damage. Two guns were recovered at the scene, but police have not confirmed if they were used in the shooting. No arrests have been made.

The wounded—a man who was stabbed and a woman grazed by a bullet—were rushed to the hospital in private cars. Their injuries were not life-threatening.

Authorities are still trying to determine what sparked the fight. The church did not respond to calls, and messages left for the pastor went unanswered.

The funeral was for Hawkins-Green, a mother of ten and grandmother or great-grandmother to over 100. According to her obituary, she was a pillar in her community.

Curtis Thomas, who was scheduled to sing at the service, was left shaken. “It’s already enough grieving. But to do it in a church? A church?” he told WTNH-TV. “A place where people come to get guidance and get help from a higher power.”

What should have been a peaceful farewell instead became a scene of violence and heartbreak—raising serious questions about how far family feuds can go, and where, if anywhere, people can truly feel safe.