At least two people were wounded and one suspect was killed following a shooting at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas Sunday afternoon.
As reported by Newsweek, the shooting took place a bit prior to the 2 p.m. Spanish service. The suspect, a woman in her early to mid 30s, entered the church with a long rifle and was accompanied by a 5-year-old boy.
According to police chief Troy Finner, two off-duty officers working security shot and killed the suspect after she began shooting. The aftermath of the shooting left two injured as well as the 5-year-old boy, who arrived with the woman, as he was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
It is unclear as to what the relationship was between the boy and the woman.
Joel Osteen, the pastor of Lakewood Church, responded to the shooting on social media.
“Our community is devastated by today’s events and grateful for the swift actions of law enforcement. May the healing hands of God touch the lives of everyone involved and provide comfort during this difficult time,” Osteen said in a statement posted to X, formerly, Twitter.
“In the face of such darkness, we must hold onto our faith and remember evil will not prevail. God will guide us through the darkest of times,” he continued. “Together, we will rise above this tragedy and stand firm in our commitment to love and support one another. In times like these, our faith is tested, but it is also strengthened. We don’t always understand why things like this happen, but we know that God is in control,” Osteen said, concluding his statement by asking for “continued prayer for healing and peace.”
During a press conference on Sunday, Osteen noted that the situation involving the shooting would have been worse if it had taken place during the 11a.m. service since it has a larger attendance.
“We were in-between services, going into the Spanish service,” he said. “So you know, if there’s anything good of it… she didn’t get in there and do a whole lot worse damage. So we thank God for that.”
