A woman in a trench coat with a gun was shot and killed after she allegedly shot Joel Osteen at his church in Lakewood Sunday afternoon.
According to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, a shooting was reported in the 3700 block of Southwest Freeway in Lakewood Church.
Joel Osteen, one of the founders of the Lakewood Church, said that they were attending an interfaith Spanish service when the shooting began.
About 1:53 p.m., a woman between the ages of 30 and 35 entered the westbound parking lot wearing a trench coat and backpack and carrying a long-range gun, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said. He was also accompanied by a 4- or 5-year-old boy. Finner said he fired the shot as soon as he entered.
Off-duty officers, including an ATF agent and a Houston PD officer, were praised for quickly contacting the suspect.
A 57-year-old man, who authorities do not believe is connected to the incident, was shot in the leg, Finner reported. He is currently seeking treatment at a local hospital.
“I want to commend these officers. Finner said the situation could have been a lot worse because he had a long gun. They did what they had to do, but I thank them.”
Finner said the woman also said she “had a bomb” but police searched her car and the bag she was carrying but when no bombs were found, the officer said the woman was spraying items on the ground.
Lakewood Cathedral, about six miles from downtown Houston, confirmed earlier reports of “shots fired” that said in an X “an active situation in Lakewood with shots fired” and that police had where the case was established. This is the only information we have at the moment. “Please pray for the Lakewood community.”
At a news conference, Osteen said the shooting happened “between jobs.” Apparently time prevents further injury or damage, he said.
“I can only imagine what would have happened if it had happened at the 11:00 service,” he said.
Osteen, referring to the shooter, said, “If there’s any good in him, (it’s) he didn’t go in and wreak havoc.”
In a statement Sunday afternoon, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said, “Our thoughts are with the victims of today’s tragic shooting as well as all of the Lakewood parishioners in Houston. “Places of worship are sacred.
The article concludes:
The events at Lakewood Chapel are a wake-up call and present how life can be challenging that is never foreseen and anticipated. The response of the Lakewood Church community is a great example of what faith, hope and community spirit can do. It is amazing how a problem was turned into hope in a short time. Lakewood Church shows us that with the help of faith and an engaged community, we can overcome any obstacle in life. Their story is an inspiration to a world that can be dark. It reminds us to honor and strengthen community relationships by valuing individuality.
