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The Metropolitan Community Church was shot up for the second time in recent weeks and the congregation is worried that hatred could be behind the attacks because of who was worshiping.
"Gunfire or gunshots hit the windows. It happened on Friday evening when we had folks in the building for Bible study," said Rev. Mark Byrd.
The Metropolitan Community Church in Northwest ministers to the largest congregation of gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgendered people in the D.C. Area.
Moments after they opened their bibles, bullets shattered windows and dozens of parishioners were scrambling for safety.
Dewayne Davis' partner had to duck for cover. "We are concerned because it actually happened in the exact same place."
The attack is the second time in a few months someone shot up the building. Members of the congregation suspect something sinister, namely homophobia, is motivating whoever is pulling the trigger. "It is being targeted because of who we are and what we are doing."
Just a few blocks away, an art gallery displaying the rainbow flag signifying it's a gay-owned business, also had a bullet tear through a window.
"It kind of seems like there is a lot of hostility between the classes coming in. I don't know if it's necessarily homophobic," said art gallery employee Larissa Cyran.
The same goes for the pastor of the church, but like those to whom he ministers, he has the nagging feeling this is far from a prank, but an expression of hate. "We'd like to think and hope not but we also certainly also are not naïve and realistic about this world in which we live."
The church already spent thousands of dollars repairing windows. It expects the recent bout of vandalism to cost thousands more. The parishioners hope it's the last time the church has to shell out big bucks to replace bullet shattered windows.
Despite the congregations concerns, D.C. Police say there is no evidence of a hate crime.
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