Monday, February 23 2026 - Handwritten notes referencing su!cide and threats show that a 20-year-old was preparing for “a violent incident” when he tried to bring a loaded gun into a Sacramento Catholic church on Ash Wednesday, prosecutors say.
On the morning of February 18, Brian Girardot Jr. dropped off his younger
relative at St. Mary Parish School before retuning shortly after with a
gun, according to a federal indictment filed on Thursday, Feb. 19.
Girardot, who was a former student at the school, then attempted to enter
the church during an all school Mass.
He was disarmed and detained when a parent observer, who also happened to
be an off-duty cop, saw a “suspicious male adult approach the front of the
church,” and sprang into action, St. Mary Parish said in a
statement.
Additional ammunition and a camouflage jacket was found in Girardot’s
vehicle that was parked nearby the church, according to the
indictment.
“Thanks to the vigilance and professionalism of our parent volunteers, our
children remained safely inside the church for the duration of Mass and a
potential crisis was averted,” the school said.
“No students came into contact with the man, and were unaware of the
situation happening outside.”
Law enforcement searched Girardot’s home where they found a stack of
handwritten notes in his bedroom that contained references to su!cide and
threats, the indictment said.
“All of you are the reason I’ve done this,” read one of the notes that was
addressed to three relatives, according to CBS News.
Prosecutors told the outlet that the notes, in addition to other evidence,
show Girardot was engaged in “preparations for a violent incident.”
Girardot was charged with possessing a firearm within a school zone, US
Attorney Eric Grant announced on Thursday.
He was also charged criminally in state court, according to the
indictment.
If convicted, Girardot faces a maximum prison sentence of five years.
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