Joel Osteen Church Shooting: Woman Killed by Off-Duty Officers After Shooting Her Rifle; Child Wounded

A famous megachurch in Houston, Texas, Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church, was the site of a shooting, resulting in the death of one woman and the wounding of two people, including one child. This happened last Sunday afternoon, between church services.

The shooting incident happened when a woman in a trench coat entered the famous Houston megachurch with a long rifle and backpack. She came with a young child who was around 4 or 5 years old before she started shooting that long rifle inside the megachurch, hitting one male churchgoer.

However, there were two off-duty officers inside Joel Osteen's church when she started shooting. They shot back, hitting her, as well as the young child. The woman was killed on the site, but the child survived but is reportedly in critical condition and was taken to a nearby medical facility.

Celebrity pastor Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church is regularly attended by 45,000 people every week, according to the Associated Press. The Hartford Institute for Religion Research considers it the third-largest megachurch in the United States, and his televised sermons from that very Houston megachurch are broadcast in around 100 countries.

"She had a long gun, and it could have been a lot worse," said Houston Police Chief Troy Finner during a press conference. He confirmed that the shooter had been killed on the spot.

Joel Osteen himself agreed with the police, stating that the incident would have been much worse if it had happened during the larger 11 AM Sunday service, adding that they are devastated and he would pray for the victims and their families.

Joel Osteen Church Shooting Happened While People Were Arriving for Spanish Service

Houston Police Chief Troy Finner also revealed that the blame for the child being wounded fell on the woman because she brought him while planning to shoot up the Joel Osteen church. He also added that they "believe the shooting was an isolated incident and there is no further danger to the public."

The woman's attack happened in a city with a sizeable Latino community, and her attack happened as people were arriving for Spanish language service, according to NBC News.

The woman's identity has not yet been revealed to the public, but Chief Finner described her as being in her early 30s. Police are still investigating her motive, but she also threatened that she had a bomb and sprayed an unknown substance as first responders arrived.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott Reacts to Joel Osteen Church Shooting

Soon after the Joel Osteen Church shooting, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott released a statement, saying, "Our hearts are with those impacted by today's tragic shooting and the entire Lakewood Church community in Houston. Places of worship are sacred."

The governor, who had previously been slammed for doing nothing after the Uvalde School Shooting tragedy, added that he is currently in contact with local and state officials so that he could "help this community and help bring swift justice to the criminal who committed this heinous act."

READ MORE: Mexico Finds Another Dead Body Near Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's Floating Barriers

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Joel Osteen speaks after shooting at his Lakewood megachurch. - KPRC 2 Click2Houston