The female suspect who opened fire at Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, was fatally shot by authorities. The woman was wearing a trench coat, carrying a long rifle, and had a backpack on when she entered the church with a 5-year-old boy by her side. Joel Osteen, the cofounder of Lakewood Church, said that the congregation was in between services and going into the Spanish service at the time the shooting started. The shooter was assumed to be between 30 to 35 years old. When she entered the church, she began shooting.
The child with her was shot and is currently in critical condition at Texas Children's Hospital. A 57-year-old man was also shot in the leg and is being treated for his injuries.
While the woman's motivation is unknown, it was revealed that she had a pro-Palestinian message on her gun. She also told authorities after she'd been shot that she had a bomb, but upon searching her car and belongings, they didn't find one.
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"Of course, we're devastated. We don't understand why these things happen," Osteen said in an interview after the shooting. "We're going to pray for the 5-year-old little boy, the lady who is deceased and the other gentleman. We're going to stay strong and continue to move forward."
