Alabama Man Arrested Threatening California Catholic Monastery

Joshua Michael Richardson, a heavily armed man from Alabama who called himself the "Angel of Death," threatened St. Michael’s Abbey, a Catholic monastery in Southern California, and traveled cross-country to the church last month. He sent an email on August 19 claiming to be the “rider of the pale horse,” a biblical reference to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and expressed intent to "do the Lord’s reaping" at the abbey, which still celebrates Michaelmas, a feast honoring Archangel Michael. Upon arriving on August 26, Richardson attended services and told a priest he had come to "separate the weak from the weeds." Authorities arrested him in Santa Monica after receiving reports of his threats, finding in his vehicle multiple weapons and tactical gear including brass knuckles, a sword, knives, body armor, duct tape, rope, and six high-capacity gun magazines, though no firearms or ammunition were recovered. He was charged with felony criminal threats and weapons possession charges and is being held without bail due to the serious danger he poses to the public. Prosecutors highlighted that his actions threatened the safety of sacred spaces and possibly preempted a violent attack, especially with the abbey’s upcoming September 29 celebration.