Tragedy at Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church: Woman Fatally Shot after Opening Fire, Leaving Two Injured.

Pastor Joel Osteen

In a shocking turn of events on Sunday afternoon, Lakewood Church, led by Pastor Joel Osteen, became the site of a terrifying incident as a woman in a trench coat entered the premises armed with a long rifle. Accompanied by a young child, she began firing shots, prompting two off-duty law enforcement officers to engage, ultimately resulting in her death.

Houston Police Chief Troy Finner revealed that the woman, aged approximately 30-35, entered the megachurch just before 2 p.m. and was confronted by the officers, preventing what could have been a more devastating situation. Tragically, a 5-year-old child was hit during the incident and is now in critical condition at a local hospital. The circumstances surrounding the child's injury remain unclear.

In addition to the child, a 57-year-old man, believed to be unrelated to the incident, sustained a gunshot wound to the leg and is currently seeking medical treatment. Finner commended the responding officers for their swift and courageous actions, preventing further harm.

While the woman had reportedly threatened that she possessed a bomb, subsequent searches of her vehicle and backpack revealed no explosives. Chief Finner disclosed that she had also sprayed some unknown substance on the ground during the incident.

Lakewood Church, situated about 6 miles from downtown Houston, acknowledged the reports of shots fired, urging the community to pray for those affected. Pastor Joel Osteen, addressing the media during a news conference, emphasized that the shooting occurred in between services, potentially minimizing the number of injuries.

The governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, expressed condolences for the tragic incident, stating that "our hearts are with those impacted by today’s tragic shooting." The White House is actively monitoring the situation and working to gather more information.

An investigation into the shooting is underway, and both law enforcement officers involved will be placed on administrative leave during the probe. The motive behind the shooting and the relationship between the woman and the child remain key areas of focus for authorities.

As the Lakewood Church community grapples with the aftermath of this distressing event, the nation awaits further details to comprehend the full scope of this tragedy within the sacred space of worship.