Louisiana pastor Tony Spell’s family claimed neighbor was tormenting them before viral beatdown
Louisiana pastor Tony Spell's family claimed neighbor was tormenting them before viral beatdown
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Prime Day ends tonight! Score these last-minute deals US NewsLouisiana pastor Tony Spell’s family claimed neighbor was tormenting them before viral beatdown
By Chris Bradford Published June 26, 2026, 4:35 a.m. ETSee more of our coverage in your search results.
Add The New York Post on GoogleA Louisiana pastor’s family complained to cops that their neighbor was tormenting them — just months before the preacher allegedly unleashed a vicious beatdown.
Tony Spell’s wife, Shaye, claimed she was harassed by Scott Sherwin’s son and alleged that he nearly caused a car crash after pursuing her on one occasion, WBRZ reported Thursday.
Shaye, of Baton Rouge, La., filed one police report in May, documenting an alleged incident from March in which she claimed Sherwin’s son, Luke, “flipped her off” before following her in his car and hurling expletives.
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“Mrs. Spell stated she quickly moved forward out of fear of him approaching her,” police said.
In a second complaint, she claimed she was “flipped off” again by Sherwin’s son while she and her husband were pulling out of the driveway, just days after the first incident.
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Shaye alleged Luke “grabbed his crotch” — which she claimed he had done previously — before pursuing them. She claimed he swerved into their lane, crossing three lanes in the process and nearly causing a crash.
Cops have not named Luke as the victim in Tuesday’s attack.
Officers had warned Scott Sherwin that Luke shouldn’t follow or contact Shaye.
But the Spells reportedly saw the elder Sherwin being told by an officer — and allegedly charged up to him while holding their phones, according to a police report.
Cops ordered the pastor to get back into his truck — and also urged Scott Sherwin to “calm down.”
Sherwin allegedly gestured at the pastor — but cops didn’t take any further action.
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Spell’s apparent rivalry with the Sherwins dates back to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2020, Spell — the pastor of the Life Tabernacle Church — sued Sherwin for installing surveillance cameras at his home.
He claimed the devices were planted “to view those coming and going,” according to the lawsuit seen by the Advocate.
Spell also claimed he had been followed and his phone had been tapped in the civil suit filed against a slew of parties, including Gov. John Bel Edwards and officials from East Baton Rouge Parish.
The lawsuit was filed in May 2020 — just weeks after he was slapped with six misdemeanor counts for flouting a COVID ban on large gatherings.
In 2023, Shaye Spell claimed her neighbor “across the street” moved traffic cones to block her church’s entrance, according to WBRZ.
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Spell said Wednesday that Sherwin’s son threatened to rape and kill his wife and children as he explained the motive behind the now-viral attack.
He claimed Sherwin’s son hurled expletives while Spell was changing the battery of one of his buses.
Spell allegedly struck his victim eight times before wrestling him to the ground, where he threw another 27 punches, leaving the man needing five stitches to his chin.
Spell faces up to eight years in prison after being charged with second-degree battery. He defended his actions after being released on bond.
“He said, ‘Tony, I’m going to rape your wife, I’m going to rape all your grandchildren, and the next time you go out of town, I’m going to kill them,’” he told reporters Wednesday, explaining the motive behind the attack.
Spell said he had a “duty and obligation” to protect his family.
“Number one, I’m a husband, number two, I’m a father, and number three, I’m a pastor who shepherds his flock,” he said. “I will not allow a man to murder my children when I’m gone.”
Spell will appear in court on September 15.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
