By: Craig Cable
Director of Agency Growth
Lightwell Insurance Advisors of Colorado
If you serve on or lead an armed security team—or if your ministry has an armed security team—you must fully understand the enormous responsibility that comes with that decision. The following incident serves as a cautionary tale for all of us.
On the evening of Sunday, April 2, 2023, George Ryan Walters (age 43) was serving as an armed member of the church security team at The Rock Church in Laurel, Mississippi. Mr. Walters was also an active member of law enforcement, serving as a volunteer reserve deputy with the Jones County Sheriff’s Department.
During the service, Mr. Walters was notified about an adult male whom witnesses described as “acting funny” and causing a disturbance. Mr. Walters contacted the individual, later identified as James Corey Donald (age 45). Mr. Donald was asked to leave the premises and was escorted outside by Mr. Walters. Once outside, a physical altercation occurred between the two men, culminating in Mr. Donald being shot and killed by Mr. Walters.
After the incident, Mr. Walters stated that Mr. Donald had attacked him and was attempting to take control of his concealed Glock 9mm handgun. Acting in self-defense, he claimed, he regained control of the weapon and fired a single shot to Mr. Donald’s upper torso. Members of the security team immediately provided medical care, but Mr. Donald succumbed to his injuries.
Within days of the shooting, after physical and video evidence was collected and reviewed, investigators with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation charged Mr. Walters with second-degree murder in the death of Mr. Donald. That charge was later upgraded to first-degree murder, which could have resulted in a life sentence.
According to the evidence, Mr. Walters was the primary aggressor in the incident. Investigators found no evidence supporting his claim of self-defense. Eyewitness reports and security camera footage indicated that Mr. Donald was attempting to flee after being struck in the face by Mr. Walters. During his attempt to escape, Mr. Walters fired a single shot into Mr. Donald’s upper back, causing him to fall. Once on the ground, Mr. Walters kicked Mr. Donald in the head. This led to an additional aggravated assault charge. While the gunshot wound was the primary cause of death, the medical examiner’s report confirmed hemorrhaging in Mr. Donald’s brain consistent with blunt force trauma from the kick.
On May 17, 2024, the 13th Circuit Court sentenced George Ryan Walters to 20 years for the fatal shooting—ten years to be served in prison with no chance of early release, followed by ten years of probation.
Lessons Learned for Your Security Team
De-escalation: Are members of your security team trained and practiced in de-escalation techniques? When words are exchanged and tempers flare, will your team remain calm, professional, and capable of making sound decisions?
Legal Knowledge: Does everyone on your team clearly understand the laws in your state regarding the use of force? Despite Mr. Walters’ law enforcement background, he made a devastating decision that cost someone their life and his own freedom.
Policies and Procedures: Does every team member fully understand their role? Are there written policies and procedures that clearly define these expectations?
Civil Liability: In January 2025, the family of James Corey Donald filed a lawsuit against The Rock Church and Mr. Walters, naming eight causes of action: negligent hiring, negligent supervision, negligent retention, duty to render aid, failure to train, failure to impose adequate security policies and protocols, wrongful death, and wrongful death by assault and battery. Based on the claims of the lawsuit, you can clearly see how the church and the individual are accountable for their actions and inaction.
Insurance Coverage: Does your ministry have adequate coverage to defend itself against such a lawsuit?
This was a preventable tragedy that has forever impacted multiple families as well as an entire community. While it may be tempting to place the blame solely on one individual, we must objectively examine our own training, policies, and procedures to ensure we are doing everything possible to prevent such incidents in our ministries.
About the Author
In addition to his role with Lightwell, Craig Cable is a sworn peace officer and serves as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff in the patrol division of the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office. He has trained hundreds of security team leaders and volunteers and was the lead developer of the Safe and Secure Church: The Ministry Approach training kit, produced in partnership with Group Publishing and Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company.
If you have further questions about protecting your ministry, please feel free to reach out to Craig at ccable@Lightwell.com.
© 2025 Lightwell Colorado, LLC. All rights reserved.
The information in this article is intended to help your ministry better understand issues of vulnerability and mitigate risks. It does not constitute legal advice. If specific legal advice is required, your ministry is encouraged to consult with a local attorney. Neither Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company, Lightwell Colorado, nor the author assumes liability for reliance upon the information provided in this article.
