Houston, Texas – An off-duty police officer shot and killed a woman who claimed to have a bomb and opened fire with a rifle at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church, leaving a 5-year-old child in critical condition after being hit by gunfire.
The woman, wearing a trench coat and accompanying the child, entered the church between services and began firing a long rifle, according to Houston Police Chief Troy Finner. Officers on the scene reported that the woman, estimated to be 30-35 years old, claimed to have an explosive device.
Two officers, a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission officer and a Houston Police Department officer, fired and struck the woman, Finner said. Unfortunately, the 5-year-old child was also hit, as well as a 57-year-old man who was not involved in the incident.
Joel Osteen, a prominent pastor who leads services attended by tens of thousands, expressed his bewilderment at the shooting, which occurred at the third largest megachurch in the U.S. Osteen said, “We’ve been here 65 years and to have somebody shooting in your church? We don’t understand why this happened.”
The church, with a massive 606,000-square-foot, 16,000-seat former sports arena, is known for drawing large crowds. Osteen mentioned that the church is going to stay strong and continue to move forward, despite the disturbing incident.
The woman’s motivations for entering the church and carrying out the shooting remain unclear, leaving authorities with more questions than answers. The incident has shaken the church community, prompting Osteen to express his gratitude that more people were not hurt.
The shooting has once again put the spotlight on the church, which has faced controversy in the past, including being accused of not sheltering victims during Hurricane Harvey. Sunday’s shooting also canceled a scheduled church service, adding to the disruptions caused by the incident.
Authorities are still investigating the woman’s motives, as well as the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the condition of the injured child. The church and the city of Houston are working with law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of the community in the wake of the tragic event.