Shooting at Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church, bomb-threatening woman with child shoots 5-year-old, 57-year-old



Law enforcement officers responded to a "possible shooter" at Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church in Texas on Sunday afternoon. The shooting suspect is reportedly dead, but a man and a child were shot.

KTRK reported, "The 2 p.m. Spanish-speaking service was about to begin when chaos erupted."

A witness told the outlet, "The whole church started praying and declaring Jesus' name. I was like, 'This might be the last time I get to pray, that I get to glorify the name of Jesus, so I'm going to do this.'"

A man told KTRK that he ran out of the megachurch in southwest Houston with his three young daughters after hearing between 20 to 30 gunshots.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez wrote at 3:10 p.m. EST on the X social media platform, "Receiving initial reports of possible shots fired at/or around Lakewood Church."

The Lakewood Church later stated, "There is an active situation involving shots fired at Lakewood. Law enforcement is on the scene."

Gonzalez said, "Shooter is down. But it does not appear that @HCSOTexas deputies fired shots; other agencies fired. We continue to assist in a methodical/thorough search of the complex."

Houston Police Department said that the suspect was a 30 to 35-year-old woman, who entered Lakewood Church with a long rifle, trenchcoat, and a backpack. She was accompanied by a child, who is approximately 5-years-old.

HPD Chief Troy Finner said the shooter at the Joel Osteen's Lakewood was shot by off-duty Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission officers.

However, a 5-year-old was also shot, and is in critical condition. A 57-year-old was shot in the leg.

The shooter allegedly threatened to have bombs, but law enforcement has not found any explosives.

A police spokesman said, "She had a long gun and it could've been a lot worse."

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott released the following statement:

Our hearts are with those impacted by today's tragic shooting and the entire Lakewood Church community in Houston. Places of worship are sacred. I have been in contact with Mayor Whitmire and offered the full support and resources of the State of Texas, including Department of Public Safety officers and Texas Rangers, to help this community and help bring swift justice to the criminal who committed this heinous act. Join Cecilia and me in praying for this community during this difficult time and for the brave men and women in blue who acted quickly to respond to this tragedy.

This is a developing story and will be updated when new details arrive.

— (@)

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Texas dad shoots two teens as they try to enter his family's car — which is carrying two infants in rear seat



A Texas dad shot two teenagers who tried to enter his family's car in northwest Harris County while two infants were in the rear seat, KTRK-TV reported.

What are the details?

Investigators said the family had just pulled up to their home in the 6800 block of Feather Creek Drive when a pair of 16-year-old males tried to enter the car through the rear doors, deputies told the station.

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez tweeted that the suspects opened one of the vehicle's rear doors.

But the dad fired multiple times at the suspects from inside the car while his wife drove away, KTRK said.

Security video from a nearby home recorded the incident, the station said, adding that one teen suspect was seen running away while the other was on the ground.

Everything unfolded just after midnight Monday, KHOU-TV reported.

Deputies said the suspects sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to a hospital in private vehicles, KTRK reported.

Gonzalez told the station that both teen suspects are stable and in fair condition.

KTRK said it spoke with the family, who said they were doing OK but didn't want to go on camera.

Video from the scene shows a bullet hole in the car's side, stemming from the shot the father took through his car's back window.

\u201cLast night, just after midnight, @HCSOTexas units responded to the 6800 blk of Feather Creek Dr in reference to a shooting. Preliminary: an adult male, his wife, and two infants arrived home. Two males, walked up to their SUV, and opened a rear door where their 1-yr-old was 1/3\u201d
— Ed Gonzalez (@Ed Gonzalez) 1657545423

Investigators spent time looking for video and additional evidence, KTRK said.

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