American televangelist, Joel Scott Osteen, has lamented the shooting at his 16,800 capacity Houston megachurch that saw female shooter killed and five-year-old boy critically injured – as cops raid house connected to suspect.
Osteen expressed his sadness over the tragedy in a statement posted on social media, noting that his community is devastated by today’s events while appreciating the swift actions of law enforcement agency.
Reports revealed that the woman entered the Houston church with a five-year-old boy just before 2pm .
It was learnt that after the woman began shooting, two cops engaged her in a gun duel and the she was killed.
While expressing his melancholic mood, Osteen said that he was devastated but was convinced evil will not prevail.
Two other people were reportedly shot and injured, including a five-year-old boy who was hospitalized in critical condition.
“Our community is devastated by today’s event and grateful for the swift actions of law enforcement. May the healing hand of God touch the lives of everyone involved and provide comfort during this difficult times.
“In the face of such darkness, we must hold onto our faith and remember that evil will not prevail.
“God will guide us through the darkest of times. Together, we will rise above this tragedy and stand firm in our commitment to love and support one another.
“It times like these, out faith is tested but it is also so strengthened. We don’t always understand why things like these happen but we know God is in control”, Osteen wrote
Houston police and FBI agents were seen in Conroe Sunday night reportedly raiding a house related to the suspect.
Houston police and FBI agents were seen in Conroe Sunday night, with KHOU reporting that there’s a home in the neighborhood with a tie to the shooting
Details of the confrontation remain unclear in the hours after the tragedy, and police have not released the woman´s identity or a possible motive.
It’s also unknown what relationship, if any, the woman had to the boy, and who actually shot him and the man.
The suspect entered the building with the five-year-old boy shortly before 2pm and the child was shot and critically injured.
Police Chief Troy Finner said it was not clear whether the young child was struck by the officers – a 28-year-old Houston police officer and a 38-year-old agent with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission – who returned fire.
Finner said after the woman began shooting, both officers ‘engaged’ her and the woman was killed.
He praised the officers for quickly confronting the woman, adding, ‘She had a long gun, and it could have been a lot worse.’
The child was in critical condition after being taken to a hospital. The man who was wounded in his hip was stable.
The shooting was said to have occured between services at the megachurch that is regularly attended by 45,000 people every week, making it the third largest megachurch in the U.S., according to the Hartford Institute for Religion Research.
Osteen´s televised sermons reach about 100 countries.
