*The suspect wanted in the robbery of Bishop Lamor Whitehead was fatally killed by police in New Jersey on Wednesday.
The New York Daily News reports that Shamar Leggette, 41, was one of three men who robbed Whitehead and his wife of more than $1 million while he was preaching at the Leaders of Tomorrow church on July 24, 2022.
Three armed thieves entered the church and removed the jewelry the pastor and his wife wore.
“I got women and children there. As I got down, one went to my wife and took all her jewelry, and had the gun in front of my 8-month-old baby’s face,” White previously said in the aftermath of the robbery.
“Took off my bishop’s ring, my wedding band and took off my bishop chain, and then I had chains underneath my robe, and he start tapping my neck to see if (there was) anything else — so that means they knew, they watched and they knew that I have other jewelry,” he added. “My church is traumatized.”
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Leggette’s accomplices, Juwan Anderson and Say-Quan Pollack, 25, were arrested weeks after the incident. According to the Daily News, Pollack pleaded guilty to a federal robbery charge late last year.
Leggette was shot and killed at the MHO Inn and Suites on U.S. 1 in Monmouth Junction on Jan. 24 as U.S. marshals were attempting to arrest him. According to NBC New York, Leggette shot at deputy marshals, and they fired back, hitting and killing him.
Whitehead called the man’s death “unfortunate” in a statement to the Daily News and offered to eulogize at Leggette’s funeral.
“I would give my services for free because I am a pastor, and the last church that he was in was my church, even though he was doing something improper,” the bishop said.
“I forgive him, and I would love for me and his family to reconcile,” Whitehead added.
READ MORE: Brooklyn Pastor Speaks Out After Thieves Rob Him and Wife During Church Service | Video
