A confessed killer reveals his chilling “Operation First Commandment” plot to murder 14 Christian leaders after crucifying an Arizona pastor in a religiously motivated killing spree that was halted by his arrest.
Key Takeaways
- Adam Christopher Sheafe, 51, confessed to killing Pastor Bill Schonemann in Phoenix, staging the murder as a crucifixion with the victim’s hands nailed to a wall and a crown of thorns placed on his head.
- Sheafe admitted to planning the murders of 14 Christian leaders across 10 states, including Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Alabama, and Texas.
- The suspect claimed his actions were religiously motivated, targeting pastors he believed were “leading people astray” by teaching that Jesus is God, which he considers contrary to the First Commandment.
- Sheafe was apprehended after a high-speed chase in Sedona, Arizona, before he could kill two additional priests on his target list.
- The confessed killer has shown no remorse, justified his actions with twisted religious beliefs, and has advocated for his own death sentence.
Gruesome Murder and Disturbing Confession
Adam Christopher Sheafe, a 51-year-old suspect in custody, has confessed to the brutal murder of Pastor Bill Schonemann in New River, Arizona. The killing, which has shocked the Christian community nationwide, involved the victim being found with his hands nailed to a wall and a crown of thorns placed on his head in a grotesque mockery of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Sheafe admitted to authorities that this murder was just the beginning of what he called “Operation First Commandment,” a meticulously planned campaign to kill 14 Christian leaders across multiple states.
During jail interviews with multiple media outlets, Sheafe showed no remorse while recounting the murder in disturbing detail. He claimed that before killing Pastor Schonemann, he engaged in a religious argument with him. “‘Are you praying to Jesus right now?’ And he said, ‘Yes’. And I said, ‘Good, because he can’t hear you,'” Mr. Sheafe said during an interview with The Washington Times.
Adam Sheafe, 51, confessed to the murder.
As is often the case with Jew haters, Dave Reilly is lying.
Sheafe is Christian, per a local news interview.
He was planning to target people of different faiths, "Christian, Catholic, Mormon"@CommunityNotes https://t.co/RSSxMucTEb https://t.co/eX2HnXhS4T pic.twitter.com/ATFAGDNcWX
— Gabe Hoffman (@GabeHoff) June 25, 2025
Religious Fanaticism and Planned Murder Spree
Sheafe’s twisted religious beliefs appear to be the core motivation behind his horrific actions and planned killing spree. He justified the murder by claiming that pastors who teach that Jesus is God are violating the First Commandment. “I don’t hate Christians. I’m after the pastors that are leading them astray,” Adam Sheafe told Fox 10 Phoenix.
“‘God, the Father alone, is God of the First Commandment, and the Son who wears the crown is … Jesus is the son of Satan.’ He said, ‘Oh, come on.’ And I said, ‘Hold still.’ And I executed him,” Mr. Sheafe recounted in a chilling interview with The Washington Times.
According to court documents, Sheafe had meticulously planned his murderous campaign over several months while in California. His target list included Christian leaders across 10 states, with specific targets in cities including Las Vegas, Portland, Seattle, and New York City. Law enforcement officials are now working to identify and warn potential targets on Sheafe’s list, creating a wave of concern throughout Christian communities nationwide.
Arrest and Legal Proceedings
Sheafe’s deadly mission was cut short when he was apprehended following a high-speed chase and subsequent foot pursuit in Sedona, Arizona. According to authorities, he was arrested before he could kill two priests in Sedona who were next on his target list. He is currently being held on charges of burglary, trespassing, and assault, with murder charges pending as he awaits extradition to Maricopa County where the killing took place.
“I drove from there (Phoenix) to Bill’s house, like two in the morning on a Sunday night, and I executed him,” Adam Christopher Sheafe told AZ Family in a jailhouse interview, showing a disturbing lack of remorse for his actions.
In a bizarre twist, Sheafe has advocated for his own execution, claiming divine protection. “I want the death penalty because I want to show that you can’t kill God’s son. The whole story is B.S.,” Adam Christopher Sheafe told AZ Family. The Schonemann family has expressed deep concern about Sheafe’s media appearances, worried that his horrific actions and statements could gain him the notoriety he appears to seek.
