HOUSTON — Chaos ensued at Lakewood Church on Sunday after shots rang out around the time the church’s 2 p.m. Spanish language service was set to begin.
Authorities said a woman wearing a trenchcoat and a backpack entered the church just before 2 p.m. with a long rifle and started shooting. They said the woman was with a child.
According to Houston Police Chief Troy Finner, two off-duty officers opened fire on the woman, killing her. He said one was a 38-year-old TABC agent and the other was a 28-year-old Houston police officer.
Witnesses describe escape
A woman said she and others were escorted out of the church by several law enforcement agencies -- including the FBI.
She said she was leaving the service and pastor Joel Osteen was greeting people on the second floor when she heard the shots. That's when she said people started running.
As she was trying to get out, she said she saw a person pointing a gun while standing near the entrance to the church and that's when she knew she needed to get away.
"I turned around and started running with the rest of the people," she said. "We hid about 10 adults in a closet and there was one child in there."
The woman said she heard that there were two shooters -- a woman and a man -- although that information wasn't verified by law enforcement. Authorities later said there was only one shooter.
"I didn't see the woman and I didn't get a good look at the guy," she said.
A child named Ethan said he was in a dance class at the church when he said he heard gunshots. They hunkered down in the room. He said he and his mom, who has attended Lakewood for 22 years, plan to come back.
A woman from Florida said it was her first time at the church. She said lost her phone during the melee but was able to stay calm until she got it back.
Authorities said the shooter was killed and the child who was with her was shot and is in critical condition. A man was also hospitalized with a leg injury.
It was a terrifying experience for those inside.
"I ducked and my mom said, 'Stay down,'" Alan Guity said.
Another churchgoer said she saw someone with a gun right after she walked out of the restroom.
"He was pointing it towards the crowd," that person said.
She said she ran for safety with others and hid inside a room. They said they blocked the door with furniture.
"I peeked out the window and I saw cops coming. I knew that it was something inside the church that would do damage to us," Ethan said.
They were so terrified they began to look for weapons.
"All we had to defend ourselves was a box cutter and some wood to block the doors," Ethan said.
A father was worried about his kids that he left in daycare but he said when he ran upstairs to get them, he wasn't allowed inside.
After about three hours, he was reunited with his 3-month-old son.
The entire congregation is holding their loved ones and their faith a little tighter on Sunday night.
What happened
- Dozens of police from the Harris County Sheriff's Office and the Houston Police Department responded to Lakewood Church for reports of a shooting. Lakewood Church posted to X, "There is an active situation involving shots fired at Lakewood."
- Initially, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the possible shooter may have been shot by one of his deputies who was working an extra job at the church but later said deputies from another agency shot the possible shooter. He later said it didn't appear as if an HCSO deputy shot at the shooter.
- The sheriff posted to X that the "shooter is down." Later, it was made clear that the shooter was killed.
- According to reporter Jason Miles who ran to the scene from his home, dozens of law enforcement were seen staged on Timmons between the Southwest Freeway and Richmond. Follow him for updates.
- All southbound lanes of the Southwest Freeway service road were closed. Houston police are asking people to avoid the area and use alternate routes.
- Authorities said the female shooter had a rifle and was with a child. Both of them were shot by officers at the church. The woman was killed and the child was critically wounded.
- The reunification center for people looking for their loved ones was set up at Life Time Fitness, located at 1 Healthy Way in the Greenway Plaza. Previously, city officials said the reunification center was at Lamar High School but that has been changed. Buses will pick up families at Richmond and Timmons, the City of Houston said.
About Lakewood Church
In a tweet on X, formerly known as Twitter, Lakewood Church said there was “an active situation involving shots fired” at the church. “That is all the information we have at this time. Please pray for Lakewood and our community,” the church said in the post.
According to the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, about 45,000 people attend weekly services at Lakewood, making it the third-largest megachurch in the U.S. Osteen’s televised sermons reach about 100 countries.
Gov. Greg Abbott 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."