A Tennessee detective sparked outrage by delivering a church sermon calling for the arrest and execution of people in the LGBTQ community.
Det. Grayson Fritts, who also is a pastor at the All Scripture Baptist Church in Knoxville, addressed his congregation on June 2, the first Sunday of Pride Month, The Knoxville News Sentinel reported.
During the controversial sermon, Fritts said that local and state governments should move to arrest, convict and “speedily” execute members of the LGBTQ community.
Following the sermon, the Knox County Attorney General's Office said that it would be looking in to the matter. The office will be reviewing Fritts’ pending cases and has assigned an assistant district attorney to field complains about any past cases where complaints are made about Fritts,a 30-year veteran.
Knox County District Attorney General Charme Allen said in a statement: “I find this speech personally offensive and reprehensible. As District Attorney, my constitutional obligation is to protect the integrity of the justice system.”
Allen added that his office has never received a complaint about Fritts.
On Wednesday Sheriff Tom Spangler announced that Fritts had requested a county buyout offer and would be on paid sick leave until it takes effect on July 19.
Speaking to the church congregation, Fritts said he did not call upon civilians to act violently towards the LGBTQ community and that the responsibility lay with government. He finished his sermon by calling authorities to "put homos to death," WVLT News reported.
Knox County District Attorney General Charme Allen said the attorney general's office would respond to the incident accordingly.
"As district attorney, I have dedicated my career to the belief that justice is blind and that all people are entitled to equal protection of the law," Allen said, according to The Knoxville News Sentinel. "I always have, and always will, prosecute fairly and justly, based upon the law and the evidence, without prejudice, bias, or discrimination of any kind.”
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