Gunman wishes woman ‘a blessed day’ after church parking lot robbery, police say

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WHNS/Gray News) - Police in South Carolina say a woman told them a man wished her a “blessed day” after robbing her at gunpoint in a church parking lot.

The woman was attending a dance recital at a Spartanburg church Thursday when she walked to her car in the parking lot, according to a Spartanburg Police incident report. She said she noticed a silver Chevy Malibu with dark-tinted windows backed into a space two spots away from her car. Its lights were on.

The woman told police she approached the Malibu to see who was inside but changed her mind and turned around to walk back into the church. That’s when she heard a door open and turned around to see a suspect wearing a gray hoodie running toward her, according to the report.

The suspect had a gun and said, “Give me your money, or I will kill you,” and “I already killed two people; there are no cameras here,” the report said.

The woman told the suspect her purse was inside and offered to leave her car keys while she retrieved it, according to the report. She then returned and handed the suspect money.

The suspect returned her keys and told her, “Have a blessed day,” before getting back into his car and driving away, the report said.

Police said the woman memorized the car’s license plate, which helped officers identify the suspect as 26-year-old Demarieia Quartez Collins. Collins was taken to the Spartanburg County jail and charged with armed robbery, officials said.

The Rev. Heather Humphries of St. James United Methodist Church made the following statement after the incident:

“Our hearts are deeply troubled by the armed robbery that occurred in the parking lot of St. James United Methodist Church on Thursday. An act of violence in a place dedicated to worship, fellowship, and service is especially unsettling for our congregation and our community. Our immediate concern is for the victim of this frightening incident. We lift her and her loved ones in prayer, asking God to surround them with peace, comfort and healing. The safety and well-being of everyone who enters our church property remains our highest priority. We take this incident seriously and are committed to working with law enforcement by, among other actions, providing access to recordings made by our security cameras. We also are already reviewing our own security measures and taking appropriate steps to help ensure that St. James remains a safe and welcoming place for all. We ask for your continued prayers for all who have been affected, including the young man arrested in connection with this incident. Even in moments of fear and uncertainty, we remain steadfast in our faith and our calling to be a community of love, hope, and peace.”