A quiet Ash Wednesday morning turned into a heart-stopping scene outside St. Mary Parish School in Sacramento — and newly uncovered handwritten notes are now raising even more disturbing questions.
Federal prosecutors say 20-year-old Brian Girardot Jr. was preparing for what they describe as “a violent incident” when he allegedly tried to bring a loaded gun into the church during an all-school Mass on February 18.
According to a federal indictment filed Thursday, Girardot — a former student of the school — first dropped off a younger relative that morning. But he returned shortly after, this time armed, and allegedly attempted to enter the church as students and staff gathered inside.
He never made it through the doors.
A parent volunteer who was serving as an observer — and who also happened to be an off-duty police officer — noticed what the church later described as a “suspicious male adult” approaching the front entrance. The parent acted quickly, disarming and detaining Girardot before he could get inside.
Inside the church, families had no idea how close they may have come to tragedy.
“Thanks to the vigilance and professionalism of our parent volunteers, our children remained safely inside the church for the duration of Mass and a potential crisis was averted,” the school said in a statement. Officials emphasized that no students encountered the suspect and were unaware of what was unfolding outside.
But what investigators say they found afterward paints a far darker picture.
Authorities searched Girardot’s vehicle and reportedly discovered additional ammunition and a camouflage jacket parked near the church. A search of his home uncovered a stack of handwritten notes in his bedroom.
The notes contained references to suicide and threats. One message, addressed to three relatives, reportedly read: “All of you are the reason I’ve done this.”
Prosecutors told CBS News that the writings, combined with other evidence, show Girardot was engaged in “preparations for a violent incident.”
On Thursday, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced that Girardot has been charged with possessing a firearm within a school zone. He is also facing separate charges in state court.
If convicted on the federal charge alone, he faces up to five years in prison.
For now, parents in Sacramento are left grappling with a chilling reality: what could have happened — and how close it may have come.
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