害羞草研究所

Skip to content

Woman killed by off-duty officers after open firing on Texas megachurch

5-year-old boy in critical condition, 57-year-old man wounded

A woman in a trenchcoat opened fire with a long gun inside celebrity pastor Joel Osteen害羞草研究所檚 megachurch in Texas before being gunned down by two off-duty officers who confronted her, sending worshippers rushing from the building between busy Sunday services, authorities said.

The woman entered the Houston church with a 5-year-old boy shortly before 2 p.m. and the child was shot and critically injured. Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said it was not clear whether the child was struck by the off-duty officers who returned fire. He said a 57-year-old man also was shot and wounded.

The child was in critical condition at a hospital, while the man was stable with a hip wound.

Finner said that after the woman began shooting, both officers 害羞草研究所渆ngaged害羞草研究所 her and the woman was killed. He said that unfortunately 害羞草研究所渁 5-year-old kid was hit害羞草研究所 although he released no immediate details on how the confrontation unfolded.

He praised the officers for quickly confronting the woman, adding, 害羞草研究所淪he had a long gun, and it could have been a lot worse.害羞草研究所

The woman was not immediately identified, and her motive wasn害羞草研究所檛 clear.

The shooting happened between services at the megachurch that is regularly attended by 45,000 people every week, making it the third largest megachurch in the U.S., according to the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. Osteen害羞草研究所檚 televised sermons reach about 100 countries.

It was not clear where Osteen was at the time. But he joined police at a news conference afterward and said the church is 害羞草研究所渄evastated.害羞草研究所 He added that the shooting could have been much worse if it had happened during the larger 11 a.m. service. He added he would pray for the victims and for the woman who did the shooting and their families.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e going to stay strong and we害羞草研究所檙e going to continue to, to move forward,害羞草研究所 Osteen said after authorities spoke. 害羞草研究所淭here are forces of evil, but the forces that are for us 害羞草研究所 the forces of God 害羞草研究所 are stronger than that. So we害羞草研究所檙e going to keep going strong and just, you know, doing what God害羞草研究所檚 called us to do: lift people up and give hope to the world.害羞草研究所

Witnesses told reporters that they heard multiple gunshots shortly before the church害羞草研究所檚 2 p.m. Spanish language service was set to begin.

Christina Rodriguez, who was inside the church, told Houston television station KTRK that she 害羞草研究所渟tarted screaming, 害羞草研究所楾here害羞草研究所檚 a shooter, there害羞草研究所檚 a shooter,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 and then she and others ran to the backside of a library inside the building, then stood in a stairway before they were told it was safe to leave.

Longtime church member Alan Guity, whose family is from Honduras, said he was resting inside the church害羞草研究所檚 sanctuary before the 2 p.m. service as his mother was working as an usher when he heard gunshots.

害羞草研究所淏oom, boom, boom, boom and I yelled, 害羞草研究所楳om,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 he said.

The 35-year-old ran to his mother and they both laid flat on the floor and prayed as the gunfire continued. They remained there for about five minutes until someone told them it was safe to evacuate. Outside, Guity said, he and his mother tried to calm people down by worshiping and singing in Spanish, 害羞草研究所淢ove in me, move in me. Touch my mind and my heart. Move within me Holy Spirit.害羞草研究所

Guity was among the many congregation members who waited Sunday evening to be allowed to return to their vehicles as police continued to search the building. The church is located in what used to be an arena where the NBA害羞草研究所檚 Houston Rockets used to play years ago.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a separate statement saying 害羞草研究所渙ur hearts are with those impacted by today害羞草研究所檚 tragic shooting and the entire Lakewood Church community in Houston. Places of worship are sacred.害羞草研究所

At least 20 police and fire trucks were near one of the church害羞草研究所檚 entrances Sunday afternoon, including the fire department害羞草研究所檚 hazardous materials truck. Finner said it was reported that the woman had a bomb, but no explosives were found when her vehicle and backpack were searched.

Worshippers could be seen leaving the building as authorities evacuated the church before the news conference. Officials announced a reunification center had been set up at a nearby gym for people to find their loved ones.

Juan A. Lozano, The Associated Press

Breaking News You Need To Know

Sign up for free account today and start receiving our exclusive newsletters.

Sign Up with google Sign Up with facebook

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google and apply.

Reset your password

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google and apply.

A link has been emailed to you - check your inbox.



Don't have an account? Click here to sign up




(or

害羞草研究所

) document.head.appendChild(flippScript); window.flippxp = window.flippxp || {run: []}; window.flippxp.run.push(function() { window.flippxp.registerSlot("#flipp-ux-slot-ssdaw212", "Black Press Media Standard", 1281409, [312035]); }); }