ReutersEmergency services at Lakewood Church
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 02:35
A woman who opened fire with a rifle in a church in the American city of Houston was shot dead by two off-duty officers. A child who was with the woman was seriously injured, as was a 57-year-old man. The incident happened at Lakewood Church, a megachurch of well-known television preacher Joel Osteen.
According to police, the woman, aged between 30 and 35, entered the church in the US state of Texas with a gun and a backpack. She allegedly shouted that she was carrying a bomb. No explosives were later found in the woman’s bag or car.
Before causing any casualties, she was shot dead by the two officers. At that moment, preparations were being made in the church for one of the Spanish-language services of the day. The police say they do not yet know anything about a motive, but say they assume this is an isolated incident.
The child the woman was carrying was taken to hospital with serious injuries. It is not clear what the mutual relationship is. Police estimate the child is four or five years old. The 57-year-old man was shot in the leg. The police assume that he has nothing to do with the case.
Joel Osteen
Lakewood Church is a so-called megachurch and is located in a former basketball stadium. About 40,000 people attend various services every weekend.
Pastor and television preacher Joel Osteen said in a statement that he did not understand what happened. “I’m still in a haze,” he said. Osteen says he will pray for the victims and for the woman who opened fire.
Osteen has also made himself heard on X. He wrote that “our community is shocked by the events” and that he is “grateful for the quick action of the officers.”
2024-02-12 01:35:42
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