MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A man was arrested over the weekend after police say he stabbed a South Florida pastor to death at a church in Miami-Dade County.
According to jail records, James Walter Dawkins, 44, of Miami, is facing one count of first-degree murder.
Miami-Dade police, along with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel, were dispatched to Westview Baptist Church, located at 13301 NW 24th Ave., around 5:31 p.m. Saturday after receiving reports of a stabbing, authorities said.
Upon arrival, officers discovered the victim, who they identified as 41-year-old Antwane Dwayne Lenoir, lying unresponsive on the ground with stab wounds to the neck. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities confirmed Lenoir, who was in his full armed security guard uniform and was a pastor at the church, contacted a locksmith to change several door locks on the premises before the incident occurred.
According to police, Dawkins, a musician ordained by Lenoir, was homeless but permitted to reside at the church.
Police said both men were involved in a verbal altercation and a short time later, without any provocation, Dawkins proceeded to stab the victim multiple times and fled the scene on foot, his arrest report stated.
On Sunday, a Miami-Dade Associate Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy on Lenoir, confirming that his cause of death was attributed to “sharp force injuries and (was) classified as a homicide,” according to investigators.
Police said just after 2 p.m. Sunday, Miami-Dade police located Dawkins in the area of Northwest 62nd Street and Northwest 27th Avenue in Miami and transported him to the department’s headquarters for questioning.
Pastor Gaston Smith told Local 10 News that Lenoir was like a brother to him and said the incident was “beyond explanation.”
“I can’t even imagine his wife of 20 years. I can’t imagine these four lovely children who all loved their dad beyond life,” said Smith. “This congregation loved their pastor.”
After reading Dawkins his Miranda Rights, detectives stated that he offered a statement regarding his involvement in the incident. However, it was found that the statement provided did not align with the evidence gathered during the investigation.
“Something must have taken place, mentally, to make this happen,” said Smith. “We have lost a dynamic pastor, a dynamic leader, an amazing father (and a) amazing community activist. He was that guy.”
As of Monday, Dawkins is being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
A motive for the stabbing remains unclear at this time.