Source: www.barnabasfund.org
Date: July 19, 2024
A Christian father of four was shot dead in the early hours of July 10 after four men broke into his home in Lahore, in the Pakistani province of Punjab.
Marshall, 28 years old, was shot 15 times during the break-in. He was rushed to hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
Yaqoob Masih, Marshall’s father, identified two of the attackers as “two Muslim boys, our neighbors Shani and Azam.” They were accompanied by at least two other attackers.
Marshall was the family’s sole breadwinner. He ran a small grocery store from their home. He leaves his wife Mehdi, three daughters and a son.
The attack stemmed from a complaint Marshall raised with police about his neighbor Shani and others firing weapons into the air at night near to Marshall’s house.
While being arrested, Shani threatened to kill Marshall in revenge. “He could not bear the thought of how a Christian could bring police against him,” said a Barnabas Aid contact.
“Being a Christian, Marshall was a soft target,” he added.
One of the gunmen also hit Marshall’s wife on the forehead with his pistol during the attack.
Six individuals were wanted for questioning concerning Marshall’s death. Police have arrested four of the alleged assailants.
HOW TO PRAY: Pray for God’s overwhelming comfort for Marshall’s widow and children in their grief, for the wider family and the Christian community. Pray that the perpetrators will all be brought to justice and that the Lord will protect His people in Lahore from further violence.