ABC NEWS reports, an armed woman opened fire inside Pastor Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston on Sunday. Off-duty officers swiftly responded to the scene, with two innocent individuals being injured in the incident. Houston Police Chief Troy Finner confirmed that the suspect was fatally shot during the encounter.
The woman, aged between 30 and 35, entered the church at around 1:53 p.m. local time, carrying a long rifle and accompanied by a 5-year-old boy. Both officers engaged the suspect, resulting in her death. Tragically, the child sustained critical injuries and was immediately transported to a local hospital.
While the circumstances surrounding the child’s injuries are unclear, Chief Finner emphasized that the suspect placed the child in danger. Additionally, a 57-year-old man unrelated to the incident suffered a gunshot wound to the leg but is in stable condition after receiving medical attention.
Despite the suspect’s claim of having a bomb, no explosives were found. Chief Finner acknowledged the potential for a far worse outcome, considering the suspect’s possession of a long gun. Pastor Joel Osteen also addressed the incident, highlighting that it occurred during the transition between services at the megachurch.
