William Milliken III Arrested at High Point Church Parking Lot with Flamethrowers & Body Armor
Police swarmed the parking lot of Wesley Memorial Church and found a 44-year-old man sitting in his truck… wearing body armor and armed with an arsenal that included two flamethrowers.
It happened around 10:15 a.m., Sunday on June 28, 2026, in the middle of church services at 1225 Chestnut Drive in High Point. A 911 caller spotted a man in camouflage sitting in a truck in the parking lot and said he had a gun.
An off-duty High Point police officer who was already working security at the church rushed straight to the truck. Backup arrived within minutes. The man was disarmed and taken into custody.
Police identified him as William S. Milliken III, 44, from Thomasville, North Carolina.
The 44-year-old Thomasville man was charged with possession of a weapon of mass destruction and other offenses.
When officers searched his truck, they didn’t just find a gun. They found a collection of weapons and items.
What Police Found in His Truck
According to High Point Police, here’s what they pulled out of Milliken’s vehicle:
- Two flamethrowers
- A CO2-powered launcher made to look like a handgun
- Two crossbows
- More than 500 rounds of ammunition
- Three knives
- Rolls of black duct tape
- Oxycodone pills (a Schedule II controlled substance)
He was also wearing a plate carrier (body armor) when they approached him.
Milliken now faces charges, including:
- Possession of a weapon of mass destruction
- Impersonation of a law enforcement officer
- Possession of a controlled substance Schedule II
He’s currently locked up in the Guilford County Jail.
Police Chief: “We Stopped It Before Anyone Got Hurt”
High Point Police Chief Curtis Cheeks III said in a statement:
“Thanks to the quick action of our officers, a man armed with weapons was taken into custody before anyone was hurt. The officers prevented a potentially dangerous situation from escalating and helped ensure everyone attending church services could return home safely.”
Police aren’t saying what the suspect’s intentions were yet.
Milliken remains in jail.
