‘Angel Of Death’: Man Arrested After Threatening Catholic Monastery, Traveling With Cache Of Weapons

A 38-year-old Alabama man who traveled to Southern California with a cache of weapons and ammunition, claiming to be the “Angel of Death,” was arrested after threatening a Catholic monastery, according to prosecutors.

Joshua Michael Richardson was charged on Wednesday with felony criminal threats and possession of six high-capacity gun magazines, brass knuckles, and a sword, the Los Angeles Times reported. Richardson sent a disturbing email to St. Michael’s Abbey in Silverado Canyon, California, on August 19, saying that he was “rider of the pale horse,” who personifies death in the book of Revelation, and threatening to “do the Lord’s reaping” at the monastery. He also claimed to be Michael the Archangel, the “Angel of Death,” from the Bible, according to prosecutors.

Silverado Canyon is a small, unincorporated community in eastern Orange County, nestled within the Santa Ana Mountains about 55 miles southeast of downtown L.A.

Along with the high-capacity magazines and sword, investigators also discovered knives, body armor, and a stun gun in Richardson’s truck. It does not appear that the Alabama man had a firearm in his possession when he was arrested.

The L.A. Times reported that Richardson allegedly attended a service at St. Michael’s Abbey on August 26 and then followed the priest into a private area. He told the priest that “he came to do the Lord’s work, to separate the weak from the weeds, and that he rode his white pale horse from Alabama,” prosecutors said.

Richardson reportedly added that he wanted to target St. Michael’s Abbey because it still celebrates Michaelmas, which recognizes St. Michael with a feast on September 29. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department received a report about the threats two days after Richardson attended the service at the monastery, and arrested him. He is being held without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday.

Law enforcement urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

“While incidents like this can feel unsettling, they also highlight the power of community. If something seems off, say something. Trust your instincts and report suspicious activity, whether it is a strange message, unusual behavior, or something that does not sit right,” the sheriff’s department said.

“No one should have to worship in fear that a stranger would walk through the door with the intent to carry out their own day of judgment and determine who lives and who dies,” added Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “A threat on one house of worship is an attack on every place of worship, and we refuse to allow threats and terror to dissuade any person from practicing their faith without fear.”

Richardson was arrested shortly after a Catholic school in Minneapolis was attacked by a trans-identifying shooter. FBI Director Kash Patel said that the Minneapolis shooter, identified as 22-year-old Robin Westman, held anti-Catholic and antisemitic views. Westman killed two children and wounded more than a dozen others after opening fire at Annunciation Catholic School during Mass last Wednesday.