HOUSTON (AP) — A lady in a trenchoat entered the Houston megachurch of celeb pastor Joel Osteen and began taking pictures Sunday afternoon and was killed by two off-duty officers working safety, police stated. They added a younger youngster with the girl was critically harm and one other man close by was wounded.
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner stated the girl entered the church with an extended gun and a backpack shortly earlier than 2 p.m. on Sunday, accompanied by a baby about 4 or 5 years outdated. He stated the kid was in essential situation after being taken to a hospital.
The taking pictures occurred between providers on the megachurch that’s usually attended by 45,000 individuals each week, making it the third largest megachurch within the U.S., in response to the Hartford Institute for Faith Analysis. Osteen’s televised sermons attain about 100 international locations.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott stated “our hearts are with these impacted by at this time’s tragic taking pictures and the whole Lakewood Church group in Houston. Locations of worship are sacred.”
“She had an extended gun, and it may have been lots worse,” Finner stated on the information convention.
Osteen stated the taking pictures may have been a lot worse if it had occurred through the bigger 11 a.m. service.
“We’re devastated,” he stated, including he would pray for the victims and their households.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows under.
HOUSTON (AP) — A Texas sheriff stated Sunday {that a} shooter was down after a taking pictures on the Houston megachurch of celeb pastor Joel Osteen on Sunday afternoon.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez didn’t instantly present extra particulars in his put up on X, the platform previously often known as Twitter. Lakewood Church had earlier posted on social media there was an “lively scenario involving photographs fired” at one of many largest megachurches in the united statesduring its sometimes busy Sunday providers.
A information convention was scheduled for later by police and different regulation enforcement businesses. A heavy presence of police surrounded the Houston megachurch.
Worshippers could possibly be seen leaving the constructing as authorities evacuated the church, and authorities stated they had been persevering with to methodically search the constructing as a precaution. About 45,000 individuals attend weekly providers at Lakewood, making it the third largest megachurch within the U.S., in response to the Hartford Institute for Faith Analysis. Osteen’s televised sermons attain about 100 international locations.
Earlier, Lakewood Church posted on X, previously often known as Twitter, shortly afterrward that there was an “lively scenario involving photographs fired” on the church.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott stated “our hearts are with these impacted by at this time’s tragic taking pictures and the whole Lakewood Church group in Houston. Locations of worship are sacred.”
Witnesses informed reporters that they heard a number of gunshots in regards to the time the church’s 2 p.m. Spanish language service was set to start.
Christina Rodriguez, who was contained in the church, informed Houston tv station KTRK that she “began screaming, ‘There’s a shooter, there’s a shooter,’” after which she and others ran to the bottom of a library contained in the constructing, then stood in a stairway earlier than they had been informed it was secure to depart.
Individuals stood outdoors the constructing as authorities evacuated the church. Officers later introduced a reunification middle had been arrange at a close-by gymnasium for individuals to search out their family members.