Bishop Alex Williams Accused Of Shooting Teen Over Broken Window

ATLANTA -- An Atlanta bishop shot a 13-year-old after the teen broke his van window, police said.

Bishop Alex Williams, of the Mechanicsville United Church of God in Christ, was charged with aggravated assault. Police said after some teens threw rocks through Williams’ van Saturday night, he pulled out a .38 revolver and started shooting, hitting the teen in the hip.

Friends said Williams was tired of repeated damage to his church.

”I don’t' know if they are trying to run him out of this area because he's trying to get rid of the drugs, Travis Gordon said.

Channel 2’s Tony Thomas interviewed Williams in January after his church caught fire. He believed it was arson.

”It's almost like starting over again, Williams told Thomas at the time.

Gordon said the fire led Williams to buy a gun.

”These kids have a vendetta about him, Gordon told Thomas.

But he was still surprised that Williams could follow through with a shooting.

”It's shocking to know he discharged a firearm. If he did, he's sorry right now because he's called this moing and he wanted people to come see him, Gordon said.

The teen, who was unidentified, was taken to Grady Hospital.

Williams was being held at the Fulton County Jail. His first court appearance is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday.