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Thomas McVicker (Credit: anonymous friend of the suspect) A potentially deadly catastrophe has been stopped in its tracks by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Earlier this month, according to a criminal complaint, Thomas McVicker, 38, in a series of text messages to a friend in southern Alabama, said his plans for a mass shooting and suicide at a Memphis church. One of the messages sent by the suspect said: “I was thinking about shooting a church up, but I’m afraid how it will affect my family in the flesh after I’m gone. So I think I’m just going to kill some people on the street and get away with it, then kill myself.” McVicker, who grew up in Punta Gorda, Florida, planned on carrying out his plans this Thursday at a church in Memphis. The suspect sought to “take his knife and slit the pastor’s throat,” according to the complaint. McVicker’s mother told the FBI her son, who owns a handgun, takes medication for schizophrenia and regularly uses cocaine and meth. WINK News spoke exclusively with McVicker’s attorney, Scott Weinberg. “They hope their son gets the mental health treatment that he needs,” Weinberg said. “They had no idea that any of this was going on.” While federal officials have not released McVicker’s mugshot, we are told he is in custody in Indianapolis. He is over 500 miles from the planned shooting site and more than 1,000 miles from Punta Gorda. “We’re in the process of getting Mr. McVicker some representation,” Weinberg said, “where the arrest occurred.” _____ For more information on reporting violations of U.S. federal law, suspected terrorism or criminal activity, visit this link. MORE: National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)