BURNET, TX — On Sunday, October 6, 2024, an alleged shooting incident occurred at The Church at the Epicenter, located at 2401 N US 281 in Burnet County, Texas. A member of the church’s volunteer safety team, Jacob Wayne Tarver, 45, claimed that he fired multiple rounds at two suspicious individuals outside the church, one of whom he said had brandished a rifle. However, after a thorough investigation by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office, it was revealed that no such threat had occurred, and Tarver had fabricated the details of the incident.

The event began with a 911 call at 10:33 a.m., during which Tarver requested police assistance and then hung up. When deputies arrived on the scene, they found that gunshots had been fired, but only by Tarver, who claimed to have been defending the church. He told law enforcement that two men had approached the church in a suspicious manner, and one presented a rifle, prompting him to shoot. The men allegedly fled in a white minivan.

Upon further investigation, which involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Texas Rangers, authorities discovered that no weapons had been brandished, and the men posed no threat to the church. In fact, no hostile actions were taken against the congregation. Tarver later admitted to fabricating the details of the encounter.

As a result, Tarver has been arrested and charged with several serious offenses, including False Report to Induce an Emergency Response (Class A Misdemeanor), Tampering with or Fabricating Physical Evidence (3rd-Degree Felony), and Deadly Conduct (3rd-Degree Felony). He is currently being held at the Burnet County Jail, awaiting a hearing to determine his bail.

Sheriff Calvin Boyd expressed his gratitude to the numerous agencies that assisted in the investigation, emphasizing the importance of countering the fear and mistrust spread by the false report. In a plea to the public, Sheriff Boyd encouraged the community to remain vigilant but avoid falling victim to fear based on fabricated stories.

It’s still unclear why Jacob Wayne Tarver, a church safety team member, fabricated threat outside The Church at the Epicenter in Burnet, Texas. While the exact motive behind his actions remains unknown, some speculate that it could have been a misguided attempt to gain attention or create a dramatic scenario for his own “five minutes of fame.” Regardless of his reasons, this false report resulted in serious legal consequences, including charges for making a false emergency report, tampering with evidence, and reckless conduct. This incident serves as a reminder of the harm that can come from inventing stories that unnecessarily stir fear in the community.