A woman in a trenchcoat opened fire with a long gun inside celebrity pastor Joel Osteen91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频渆ngaged91裸聊视频� her and the woman was killed. He said that unfortunately 91裸聊视频渁 5-year-old kid was hit91裸聊视频� although he released no immediate details on how the confrontation unfolded.
He praised the officers for quickly confronting the woman, adding, 91裸聊视频淪he had a long gun, and it could have been a lot worse.91裸聊视频�
The woman was not immediately identified, and her motive wasn91裸聊视频檛 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. Osteen91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频渄evastated.91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e going to stay strong and we91裸聊视频檙e going to continue to, to move forward,91裸聊视频� Osteen said after authorities spoke. 91裸聊视频淭here are forces of evil, but the forces that are for us 91裸聊视频� the forces of God 91裸聊视频� are stronger than that. So we91裸聊视频檙e going to keep going strong and just, you know, doing what God91裸聊视频檚 called us to do: lift people up and give hope to the world.91裸聊视频�
Witnesses told reporters that they heard multiple gunshots shortly before the church91裸聊视频檚 2 p.m. Spanish language service was set to begin.
Christina Rodriguez, who was inside the church, told Houston television station KTRK that she 91裸聊视频渟tarted screaming, 91裸聊视频楾here91裸聊视频檚 a shooter, there91裸聊视频檚 a shooter,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� 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 church91裸聊视频檚 sanctuary before the 2 p.m. service as his mother was working as an usher when he heard gunshots.
91裸聊视频淏oom, boom, boom, boom and I yelled, 91裸聊视频楳om,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� 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, 91裸聊视频淢ove in me, move in me. Touch my mind and my heart. Move within me Holy Spirit.91裸聊视频�
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 NBA91裸聊视频檚 Houston Rockets used to play years ago.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a separate statement saying 91裸聊视频渙ur hearts are with those impacted by today91裸聊视频檚 tragic shooting and the entire Lakewood Church community in Houston. Places of worship are sacred.91裸聊视频�
At least 20 police and fire trucks were near one of the church91裸聊视频檚 entrances Sunday afternoon, including the fire department91裸聊视频檚 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
