Re: 2 injured, including child, after shooting at pastor Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church, Houston police say. Shooter is also down

[Democrat criminals]

On 21 May 2022, bruce bowser <bruce2...@gmail.com> posted some
news:b06cb486-235f-4f28...@googlegroups.com:

> Another Democrat POS decides to attack a place of safety and religion.

A woman in a trench coat armed with a long rifle – and accompanied by a
young child – entered pastor Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church on Sunday
afternoon and began firing, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said.

Two off-duty law enforcement officers – a Houston police officer and an
agent with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission – engaged and struck
the woman, who died on the scene, Finner said. The woman was roughly
30-35 years old, the chief said.

“Unfortunately a 5-year-old kid was hit and is in critical condition at
our local hospital,” he added. The incident unfolded just before 2 p.m.,
the chief said. It was unclear who fired the shot that struck the child,
the chief said, or what the child’s relationship to the shooter was.

A 57-year-old man – who authorities don’t believe was connected to the
incident – was shot in the leg and is seeking treatment at a hospital,
Finner said.

“I want to commend those officers. She had a long gun and it could have
been a lot worse,” Finner said. “But they stepped up and they did their
job, and I want to thank them for that.” An investigation will take
place into the shooting and both law enforcement officers will be placed
on administrative leave while the probe is ongoing.

The woman had also threatened she “had a bomb,” but authorities searched
her vehicle and a backpack she was wearing and found no explosives,
Finner said. “She was also spraying some type of substance on the
ground,” the chief added.

Lakewood Church – a megachurch about 6 miles from downtown Houston –
confirmed reports of “shots fired,” earlier, saying on X, “There is an
active situation involving shots fired at Lakewood. Law enforcement is
on the scene. That is all the information we have at this time. Please
pray for Lakewood and our community.”

Speaking during the news conference, Osteen, the pastor, said the
shooting took place “in between services,” noting the timing of the
incident likely helped prevent further injuries and damage.

“I can only imagine if it would have happened during the 11 o’clock
service,” he said.

“So, you know, if there’s anything good of it … (it’s) that she didn’t
get in there and do a whole lot worse damage,” Osteen said of the
shooter.

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.”

The governor added he has been in contact with local and state officials
to “help this community and help bring swift justice to the criminal who
committed this heinous act.”

A Lakewood parishioner at the scene told CNN affiliate KPRC he was
inside the church waiting for the Spanish language service to start when
he heard multiple shots fired. The man was then instructed by a church
usher to run, he told KPRC. The service was slated to begin at 3:00 p.m.
ET, according to the church website.

CNN has reached out to Houston police and the Harris County Sheriff’s
Office for more information.

Lakewood Church, now located in what used to be a sports arena, was
founded by Osteen’s father in the 1950s.

The White House is tracking the shooting and working to obtain more
information, a White House official said.

CNN’s Aileen Graef and Sarah Dewberry contributed to this report.

This is a developing story and will be updated.