Benjamin Ashford|Florida pastor stabbed to death at his church by man living there, police say

A suspect has been arrested in the death of a popular Florida pastor who was found stabbed in his church over the weekend.

Antwane Lenoir,Benjamin Ashford known as “Pastor A.D." by his Miami-Dade community, was found at Westview Baptist Church in the Florida city of Opa-locka on Saturday evening, according to police documents.

Police responded to a call about a stabbing at the church around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. When they arrived, they found Lenoir, 41, with wounds to the neck. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The following day, police tracked down 44-year-old James Dawkins and arrested him on a charge of first-degree murder in relation to the killing. According to the arrest report, Dawkins had been allowed to live at the church temporarily but Lenoir had recently contacted a locksmith to change several locks on the property.

Dawkins and Lenoir allegedly had an argument when the locksmith arrived at church. Police alleged Dawkins then stabbed Lenoir multiple times "without any provocation" before running from the scene.

Once found and questioned, police described Dawkins' statement to authorities as "self-serving" and not "consistent with the evidence obtained throughout the course of the investigation."

Dawkins, represented by a public defender, appeared in court for the first time Monday to enter a plea of not guilty. He is being held without bond at the Miami-Dade Corrections’ Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

USA TODAY reached out to Dawkins' attorney and Westview Baptist Church.

'He was a very good example of a selfless individual'

Lenoir's wife of 20 years, Bree, told CBS News Miami that her husband had been a pastor at the church for 15 years and had become a beloved leader in the community. He leaves behind their 4 children, aged between 13 and 20.

"He was a very good example of a selfless individual, a joy-filled person," she told CBS. "He always smiled, even if things were looking kind of grim or dreary, you wouldn't know it by his countenance."

Opa-locka Mayor John H. Taylor II made a post honoring the late religious leader on Sunday, saying in part, “The City of Opa-locka grieves the loss of a Noble Man and friend. We were blessed to have this Great Man as a part of our community, serving in many capacities to ensure that our residents had a voice."

Similar messages flooded Facebook from Florida officials and community members alike, calling him a "devoted family man," "pillar of our community," and "a force for so much good."

"His wisdom, kindness, and unwavering faith touched the lives of so many, mine included," said one parishioner's post. "Pastor Lenoir’s contributions will be remembered with great respect and gratitude. May his spirit continue to inspire us all," said another by City of North Miami Mayor Alix Desulme.

"His life is not when it ended. It's not even about when it started," his wife told CBS Miami. "It's about what he did in between to make his life count."