Off-Duty Cops Stop Female Shooter at Joel Osteen’s Houston Megachurch

Two off-duty law enforcement officers in Houston subdued a woman who opened fire at Lakewood Church on Sunday, a prominent evangelical congregation led by televangelist Joel Osteen, according to police reports.

The incident occurred shortly before 2 p.m. local time when a woman in her early 30s entered the megachurch armed with a long rifle, accompanied by a child approximately five years old. Houston Police Chief Troy Finner informed the media that the officers, one from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and the other from the Houston police, neutralized the shooter before anyone inside the church could be harmed. The church was in the process of preparing for a Spanish-language service at the time.

Two individuals sustained injuries during the incident, including the child who was with the shooter. Authorities are investigating the child’s relationship to the woman and trying to determine her motive. Chief Finner indicated that it was unclear who accidentally shot the child amidst the chaotic situation.

The child was transported to Texas Children’s Hospital and is in critical condition, while a man in his fifties suffered a non-critical leg injury and is receiving treatment at a local hospital. “She had a long gun, and it could have been a lot worse,” Finner remarked.

The shooter had also made threats regarding possessing a bomb, which led officials to inspect her backpack and vehicle, but no explosives were found.

Mass shootings in the United States are predominantly committed by men, making this incident particularly unusual. A report from the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center noted that from 2016 to 2020, 96% of mass attackers were male.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott expressed his condolences in a statement, saying, “Our hearts are with those impacted by today’s tragic shooting and the entire Lakewood Church community in Houston.”

Lakewood Church, which has a seating capacity of around 16,000, is co-led by Joel Osteen and his wife, Victoria Osteen, who serve as co-pastors. Joel Osteen is regarded as one of the wealthiest and most influential pastors in the United States, known for his prosperity gospel teachings. His media outreach impacts millions of households across the country and around the globe.

Following the shooting, Osteen addressed the community, stating, “We don’t understand why these things happen, but God is in control. We’re going to stay strong. We’re going to continue to move forward.”

The church, situated in a former sports arena that once housed the Houston Rockets of the NBA, welcomes over 40,000 worshipers each weekend.