US Woman Gunman Opens Fire at Church While Carrying Young Child

A shooting incident occurred at a large church in Texas, USA, on a Sunday afternoon just before a worship service, when a woman in her 30s accompanied by a child opened fire. The shooter was shot dead on the spot by an off-duty police officer present at the scene.

On the 11th (local time), the Houston Police Department (HPD) in Texas announced that two people were injured in a shooting incident at Lakewood Church in southwest Houston that afternoon. In a live briefing streamed on social media, the police explained that at around 1:53 p.m., just before the Spanish-language worship service, a woman estimated to be between 30 and 35 years old drove into the church parking lot and entered the church building carrying a long rifle. The shooter entered the church accompanied by a child who appeared to be about 4 to 5 years old.

On the 11th (local time), a shooting incident occurred at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, USA.
[Photo by Reuters Yonhap News]

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Dressed in a trench coat, the woman began shooting as soon as she entered the church. At that moment, a 28-year-old off-duty police officer and a 38-year-old agent from another agency subdued her. The shooter was shot and killed by their gunfire, and the child accompanying her was also shot and transported to a nearby hospital. The police reported that the child is currently in critical condition. Additionally, a man in his 50s who was at the scene was shot in the leg and is receiving treatment at the hospital.

The police received information that the female shooter threatened to have a bomb before she died, so they searched the vehicle she arrived in and her bag, but no explosives were found. Troy Finner, Chief of the Houston Police Department, pointed out that the shooter was armed with a long gun and said, "The situation could have been much worse," adding, "I want to thank those who stepped up and handled the situation." The specific identity and motive of the woman who carried out the shooting have not yet been determined, and the relationship between her and the injured child is currently under police investigation.

Lakewood Church Pastor Joel Osteen is speaking at a press briefing about the shooting incident on the 11th.
[Photo by AP Yonhap News]

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At the time of the shooting, churchgoers who were waiting for the Spanish-language worship service scheduled for 2 p.m. heard multiple gunshots and all evacuated in a hurry. Lakewood Church is a large church with about 45,000 attendees every week. The Associated Press reported that it is the third largest church in the United States. The pastor leading this church, Joel Osteen (60), is also a well-known figure. His books, including "The Power of Positive Thinking," have been translated and published domestically, and they contain content pursuing prosperity theology. Pastor Osteen's TV sermons are broadcast in about 100 countries. Lakewood Church was founded in 1959 by Pastor John Osteen, Joel Osteen's father, and is not affiliated with any specific denomination.

In a media briefing that day, Pastor Osteen said, "We have been here for 65 years, but there has never been a shooting in the church," and added, "I am deeply shocked by the shooting incident." He also expressed gratitude to the police who subdued the shooter at the scene, saying, "I want to thank all of them," and added, "If this had happened during the 11 a.m. service, the damage could have been much more severe."

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