A female shooter is dead after she opened fire inside Lakewood Church, the Houston megachurch pastored by Joel Osteen. Watch the moment when the shooter opened fire below and click here to get Todd’s newsletter for exclusive conservative news and commentary.
Houston police said a woman in her early 30s entered the church on the west side armed with a long rifle wearing a trench coat and a backpack. She was reportedly accompanied by a small child between four to five years old and opened fire immediately after entering the building.
“So there was one shot first and then there was a set of shots and then we started running and then there were multiple sets of shots, I can’t really count them, it was at least five times that they shot multiple times,” eyewitness Paula Laverde told CBS News.
Police said two off-duty officers engaged and fired at the female, killing her at the scene. According to authorities, the child was hit and is in critical condition at the hospital.
A 57-year-old man, who police said had nothing to do with the incident, was shot in the leg and taken to the hospital for treatment.
In a statement Sunday afternoon, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said, “Our hearts are with those impacted by today’s tragic shooting and the entire Lakewood Church community in Houston. Places of worship are sacred.”
Osteen released the following statement:
Our community is devastated by today’s events and grateful for the swift actions of law enforcement. May the healing hands of God touch the lives of everyone involved and provide comfort during this difficult time. In the face of such darkness, we must hold onto our faith and remember evil will not prevail. God will guide us through the darkest of times. Together, we will rise above this tragedy and stand firm in our commitment to love and support one another. In times like these, our faith is tested, but it is also strengthened. We don’t always understand why things like this happen, but we know that God is in control. Please join me in continued prayer for healing and peace.
Joel Osteen
With reporting from our news partners at ABC News