Brooklyn pastor robbed of $1 million in jewelry during livestream service

A Brooklyn Bishop was robbed at gun point while he was livestreaming a seminar. Bishop Lamor Whitehead was delivering a sermon for Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministries when assailants dressing in dark clothing and had their faces concealed by hoods burst into the room.

ABC News station WABC were able to obtain a video showing the events unfold. Whitehead can be heard saying “All right, all right, all right,” during the video, as he was being held at gunpoint. The livestream is no longer available on the church’s website.

Whitehead posted a video to his Instagram account discussing the robbery. “When I see them come into the sanctuary with their guns, I told everybody, ‘Get down. I didn’t know if they wanted to shoot my church up or if they were coming for a robbery.”

Whitehead went onto say that the assailants took “hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of jewelry.” Reports now say that the amount was more than $1 million.

The New York Police Department has confirmed that no-one was physically hurt during the robbery. They said that the suspects left the scene in a white Mercedes. They believe that the assailants stopped the car at some point to change clothes.

Whitehead has pleaded with the men to turn themselves in and has expressed his desire to forgive them. “These men, they need to turn themselves in,” Whitehead said. “I forgive you and I’m praying for you, and I hope that God deliver you from the mindset of who you are at this time.” 

A statement from New York Mayor Eric Adams has promised that this case will be prioritized. “No one in this city should be the victim of armed robbery, let alone our faith leaders and congregants worshiping in a House of God. The NYPD is investigating this crime and will work tirelessly to bring the criminals involved to justice,” the statement read.

Whitehead defended himself on Sunday by video against claims of him being “flashy,” after it was disclosed that a high value of jewelry was stolen.

“It’s not about me being flashy. It’s about me purchasing what I want to purchase,” he said. “It’s my prerogative to purchase what I want to purchase. If I worked hard for it, I can purchase what I want to purchase.”

According to CNN, Whitehead is offering a $50,000 reward for information that would lead to the arrest of the robbers. “I want justice, I want these men arrested,” he said on Monday. “I know somebody knows something and I want to make sure that you all know that I’m invested into this.”