Shawn Holes didn’t quite receive the welcome he expected from Montana State students on Tuesday afternoon.
Holes, also known as Shawn the Baptist, was preaching in a common area on the south side of campus when an unidentified white male, carrying a large aerosol can, approached him.
“He said something, but I couldn’t hear it,” Holes told the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, before the masked man pepper sprayed the preacher.
Fortunately, Holes was able to duck and avoided a direct shot from the blast, but he was still sprayed in the neck, head and side of his face. A second individual was also struck by the pepper spray.
This was not Shawn the Preacher’s first trip to Montana State, as he regularly visits college campuses across the nation to promote his ministry, Luke 10:2 Ministries.
Holes, who lives in Idaho, was surprised at his attacker’s animosity. “I’ve always been well received. They’ve always been kind to me.”
Montana State University Police are still searching for a suspect, described as a white male wearing jeans, a black hoodie and black bandana during the attack. Authorities urge individuals with any information regarding his identity to report it to (406) 994-2121 or switness@montana.edu.