Off-duty Officers Fatally Shoot Female Shooter at Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church
A woman opened fire inside Joel Osteen's megachurch in Texas before being killed by off-duty police officers. Two victims, including a 5-year-old boy, were injured in the incident.
Shooting Incident at Lakewood Church
A woman entered the Lakewood Church in Houston with a long gun and opened fire before being shot and killed by off-duty police officers. The incident took place just before 2 p.m. local time. The woman was accompanied by a 5-year-old boy, who was critically wounded in the shootout. A 57-year-old man, who was not involved in the incident, was also shot but is in stable condition.
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner confirmed that the suspect was between the ages of 30 and 35. The off-duty officers, who were working as security at the church, responded to the incident and fatally shot the shooter. The 5-year-old child is currently hospitalized in critical condition.
Chief Finner addressed questions regarding the child's injuries, stating that he didn't have that information at the moment. However, he mentioned that if the suspect endangered the child, the blame would be placed on her.
No Explosives Found
Despite the suspect's claim of having a bomb, no explosives were found by the police. Chief Finner mentioned during a press conference that the situation could have been much worse, considering the suspect had a long gun.
The shooting occurred just before the church's Spanish language service was scheduled to begin. Joel Osteen, the celebrity pastor of Lakewood Church, expressed his concern about the incident, acknowledging that it could have caused even more damage if it had happened during a larger service.
Lakewood Church and Ongoing Investigations
Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church is one of the largest megachurches in the United States. The incident has raised concerns about security measures in such public places of worship.
The investigation is ongoing, and law enforcement authorities are working to gather more information about the shooter's motives and any potential connection to the victims. The community, as well as the church, is grappling with the aftermath of the tragic event.
