A Bonita woman accused of pulling a gun on a church congregation on Easter Sunday was ordered Wednesday held in jail on $1 million bail.
Nine criminal charges were filed against Anna Linda Conkey, 31, and she pleaded not guilty before San Diego Superior Court Judge Joseph Brannigan.
Deputy District Attorney Matthew Greco said Conkey went inside the Church TsidKenu at 4240 Mount Everest Boulevard in Clairemont. Greco said Conkey had attended services there before.
The pastor was concluding his Easter message when Conkey stood up holding her baby and pointed a gun at several people in the congregation.
“She said they were all going to die,” said Greco, who added she then pointed the gun at her nearly 1-year-old child.
Several church members wrestled the gun away from her, which turned out to be unloaded, and another grabbed her baby, said Greco.
The church members called police and let her go when officers arrived. “She lunged at the officer and attempted to get (the gun) back,” said Greco.
Greco said the first 911 caller was Conkey herself, telling a dispatcher there was a woman in the church with a gun and that bombs had been planted. A search of the church found no explosives.
“Mental issues will play a role in this case,” said Greco afterwards.
“This is highly out of character for her,” said her attorney, Stephen Cline.
Conkey made an online video before the incident and said she was a prophet. She claimed she was asked to leave the Church TsidKenu because they disagreed with her opinions.
The church described itself on their website as “a non-denominational church focused on encountering God.” The name of TsidKenu was described as “one of seven covenant names for God in the Old Testament.”
Though no ammunition was found with Conkey, police found ammunition at her Bonita home. Her two children were taken into custody by Children’s Protective Services.
Her husband was believed overseas in the military, but has since arrived in San Diego and is caring for the children now.
She is charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, three counts of making criminal threats and one attempted threat, bringing a gun into a school zone, making a false bomb threat, child endangerment, resisting an executive officer, and a misdemeanor count of disturbing a religious meeting.
Greco said she faces up to 23 years in prison if she is convicted. A preliminary hearing was set for May 7.
Conkey remains in the Las Colinas Women’s Detention Facility.
