Garner man brought rocket-fueled pipe bomb to church, police allege
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- Garner police charge Christopher McMullen with possessing a pipe bomb at a church.
- Arrest affidavit says device held about 10 ounces of solid rocket fuel.
- Officials report no specific threat to congregation and no injuries or property damage.
A Garner man is accused by town police of placing a pipe bomb in a church parking lot.
Police charged Christopher Glenn McMullen, 38, on Tuesday, March 3, with possession of a weapon of mass destruction, second-degree trespassing and littering, the Garner Police Department said Wednesday afternoon.
Police responded to a suspicious item call on Feb. 27 at The Capital Church, 1308 U.S. 70 West.
A warrant for McMullen’s arrest says the pipe bomb contained approximately 10 ounces of solid rocket fuel: potassium nitrate and sugar.
“Investigators have found no evidence suggesting that Capital Church or its members were specifically targeted, and there is no reason to believe this incident was directed at the congregation,” Capt. David Casteline wrote March 4 in a news release.
On Friday, March 20, police said additional charges were issued after specially trained detectives reviewing evidence found child sexual abuse material in McMullen’s possession. As a result, he is now charged with 15 counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor
Church responds to pipe bomb incident
In a statement posted to Facebook on Feb. 27, pastor Ryan Jackson said the suspicious device was found in the parking lot. No one was injured, and no property was damaged.
Afterward, he wrote, “I personally accompanied law enforcement across our campus with bomb-sniffing dogs covering every corner of every building” to make sure the campus was safe.
Jackson wrote that the church did not know the motive behind the incident and requested increased police presence for the upcoming Sunday service.
This story was originally published March 4, 2026 at 4:06 PM.
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