Burnet County authorities have confirmed a “shooting incident” that took place at a Burnet church yesterday was a false report.
Authorities arrested Jacob Wayne Tarver, 45, of Burnet County on charges of false report to induce an emergency response, a Class A misdemeanor; tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, a third-degree felony; and deadly conduct, a third-degree felony. He is being held in the Burnet County Jail awaiting a magistration hearing to set bail.
According to a Burnet County Sheriff’s Office statement issued Monday afternoon, the incident began with an emergency call Sunday morning.
At 10:33 a.m., BCSO deputies responded to the Church at the Epicenter regarding an emergency call “in which a male subject requested the police at the address above and then disconnected,” a news statement read.
When officers arrived, “it became clear that there had been gunfire, and that the 911 caller had fired all of the shots,” the BCSO statement said. “It was further determined that the caller/shooter was a member of the church’s volunteer safety team.”
The man told officers he confronted two suspicious men outside the church, one who presented a rifle. The caller claimed to have fired multiple rounds, leading both men to flee the scene in a white minivan and drive northbound on U.S. Highway 281.
In an ensuing investigation that lasted well into Sunday night and resumed on Monday morning and involved multiple law enforcement agencies, the caller “admitted that he had fabricated significant details of this incident and had lied to law enforcement and others about this incident,” the news statement said.
“There were no hostile actions taken or directed at the church by any persons and no weapons brandished toward the church or the safety team member,” authorities said. “At no time was the safety of the congregation in jeopardy.”
Authorities urged the public to remain vigilant but to spread the facts of the scenario rather than rumors.
“Please remain alert for actual threats to public safety and continue to report suspicious activity to the proper authorities,” the BCSO statement read. “That said, do not give in to the unfounded fears that are a result of this false story. Sheriff Boyd asks that members of the public disseminate this update broadly by liking, sharing, re-posting and freely discussing it.
“The rumors and speculation surrounding this case have only served to cause fear, mistrust and animosity within the community,” the statement continued. “This falsehood can only be counteracted by the widespread announcement of the truth.”
Burnet County Sheriff Calvin Boyd expressed his thanks to the Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Ranger Service, DPS Highway Patrol, DPS Criminal Investigations Division, the Burnet Police Department, Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens and park police, DPS Aircraft Division, DPS Intelligence and Counterterrorism Unit, DPS SWAT Team and the 33rd /424th District Attorney Sonny McAfee for their assistance in the investigation.
