A woman opened fire inside Pastor Joel Osteen’s crowded megachurch in Houston on Sunday before being shot dead by two off-duty police officers.
The shooter was killed by off-duty police on the scene.
The shooting occurred between services shortly before 2 p.m. with thousands present. Two people were injured, including a 5-year-old boy now in critical condition. The shooter, wearing a trench coat and equipped with a shot gun, entered with the child before confronting police.
“I will say this,” Houston Police Chief Troy Finner told reporters during a news conference outside the church. “That female, that suspect, put that baby in danger. I’m going to put that blame on her.”
The boy was in critical condition at a children’s hospital, while the man was stable at a different hospital with a hip wound.
Witnesses heard multiple gunshots ring out and ran to find safety. Police said the woman recklessly endangered the boy’s life. Authorities are still investigating motives and relationships.
Longtime church member Alan Guity, whose family is from Honduras, told the Associated Press he was resting inside the church’s sanctuary before the Spanish service as his mother was working as an usher when he heard gunshots.
“Boom, boom, boom, boom and I yelled, ‘Mom,’ ” he told The Associated Press.
Osteen said the tragedy could have been worse during larger services. Police praised the officers’ quick response in fatally shooting the gunwoman who claimed to have a bomb.
The massive Lakewood Church holds 45,000 weekly attendees. Osteen said his congregation is devastated but will stay strong in faith. Texas officials condemned the sacred place of worship being targeted.
Police continue to search the premises and investigate the shocking shooting. Osteen said evil forces are outweighed by God’s power as the church mourns the victims.
“We’re going to stay strong and we’re going to continue to, to move forward,” Osteen said during the news conference with police. “There are forces of evil, but the forces that are for us — the forces of God — are stronger than that. So we’re going to keep going strong and just, you know, doing what God’s called us to do: lift people up and give hope to the world.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report
