Pursuit Seattle Responds with Faith and Resilience After Tragic Shooting
Last Thursday, July 31, a horrific act of violence struck the Pursuit Seattle church, shattering the sanctity of a young adult gathering. Pastor Russell Johnson delivered a powerful response, addressing the tragedy that claimed the life of LeBron Givaun Castleberry, a beloved member of the congregation and recent convert to Christianity.
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A Night of Tragedy
At approximately 7:10 p.m., as students arrived for a service at the Pursuit Seattle campus, a car stopped in front of the church. Two masked gunmen exited the vehicle and opened fire, discharging over 30 rounds from illegally modified handguns. LeBron, who was entering the church with his wife and child, was fatally shot. The assailants fled, leaving behind a burned-out getaway vehicle in another church’s parking lot, stripped of license plates and intentionally set ablaze to destroy evidence. As of now, Seattle detectives have no suspects or leads.
LeBron, who had just married on Tuesday and was set to move into a new apartment, was tragically killed in front of his family. Pastor Johnson called the incident “unthinkable,” noting, “Even criminals supposedly have a code of honor. You don’t shoot a man in broad daylight while he’s at a house of worship with his wife and kid.” Miraculously, the indiscriminate shooting did not result in a mass casualty event, despite the crowd and volume of gunfire.
A Community in Mourning
LeBron was a brand-new member of Pursuit Seattle, having committed his life to Jesus just two months prior. His final Instagram post invited others to the young adult service where he was killed. The church has rallied around his family, launching a GoFundMe that raised nearly $50,000 in 48 hours to support them during this crisis. Additionally, Pursuit announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible, a critical step in a city where 76% of homicides go unsolved.
A Defiant Stand
Pastor Johnson condemned the attack as an attempt to intimidate the church, declaring, “The thugs who committed this crime were trying to send a message: No church is safe. No house of worship is sacred.” Yet, he affirmed the church’s resolve: “The enemy would love for us to back down and hide, but that is simply not who we are.” Citing the “precious blood of Jesus,” he emphasized hope and resilience, noting that LeBron’s faith ensures a future reunion in heaven.
The pastor also expressed frustration with the silence of Seattle’s political leaders, contrasting their swift criticism of the church’s past public worship events with their lack of response to this tragedy. “If this attack was racially or politically motivated, the governor would have called in the National Guard,” Johnson said. “But because this happened at an outspoken Christian church, our elected officials have remained silent. Shame on them for their political cowardice.”
Global Support, Local Mission
In the wake of the shooting, Pursuit Seattle received an outpouring of support from churches and leaders worldwide. Local Jewish community members attended a candlelight vigil, and pastors from Grace City Church, Mercy Culture Church, and Harvest Rock Church visited to stand in solidarity. “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity,” Johnson said, thanking those who have supported the church.
Despite calls from some to leave Seattle, Pastor Johnson was unequivocal: “I’m not leaving this city. We aren’t abandoning our mission. The Pacific Northwest does not belong to criminals or communists. This place belongs to Christ.” He invoked LeBron’s death as a call for revival, stating, “If the blood of the saints is the seed of the church, then let the blood of LeBron cry out from the front steps of our Seattle campus.”
Pursuit Seattle remains steadfast, as Pastor Johnson concluded, “We cancel demons and darkness. We cancel murder and violence. We cancel cowards and criminals. But we ain’t canceling church. And if it’s revival or we die, I choose revival.”
