Authorities report that a shooting incident occurred at Lakewood Church, resulting in the death of the suspect and injuries to two individuals

On Sunday afternoon, a distressing incident unfolded at Pastor Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church, as a female shooter initiated gunfire. This led to a harrowing exchange of bullets with off-duty authorities, resulting in two individuals sustaining injuries, the suspect's demise, and an undisclosed number of worshippers seeking refuge.

Houston Police Chief Troy Finner provided details, stating that the suspect, described as a woman aged between 30 to 35, entered the renowned church around 2 p.m. armed with a long rifle, wearing a trench coat, and carrying a backpack. Shockingly, she had a 5-year-old child accompanying her. As the situation escalated, the woman began firing shots, prompting an off-duty agent from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and an off-duty officer from the Houston Police Department to return fire, ultimately incapacitating the suspect.

Houston Police Chief Troy Finner stated that "multiple" shots were fired shortly after the woman entered the west side of the basketball arena, now transformed into Lakewood Church. However, an exact count of the shots fired remains unknown.

Authorities confirmed that the child brought into the church by the woman sustained injuries in the shooting and was in critical condition as of late Sunday afternoon. Additionally, a 57-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to the hip.

Acknowledging the tragedy of the situation, Chief Finner emphasized the resilience of the city, stating that "no suspect or suspects will tear down our city." He commended the collaboration among various law enforcement agencies and first responders.

Finner also mentioned that the suspect had claimed to possess a bomb and had sprayed an unidentified substance in the area. However, initial investigations revealed no evidence of a bomb at the scene.

Authorities refrained from disclosing any potential motive or revealing the suspect's identity. Chief Finner emphasized that discussing the suspect's motivations would be premature, as they remained uncertain.

Mayor John Whitmire reassured Houstonians, stating that the police had effectively fulfilled their duty to protect the public. He characterized the shooting as an isolated incident, indicating that it appeared to involve a lone individual.

The shooting occurred just moments before a Spanish-language service was scheduled to commence at the Greenway Plaza megachurch, where Joel Osteen and his wife minister to an average of around 45,000 individuals in person and millions worldwide each week.

Andreina Rondón, seated inside the main sanctuary, heard the chilling sound of gunshots echoing through the church, followed by the shattering of a monitor broadcasting the service. Her immediate instinct was to take cover and ensure the safety of her children, who were attending youth programs elsewhere in the church. Together with three other parishioners, she sought refuge in a nearby bathroom, where they anxiously awaited police clearance before they could leave. For Rondón, the wait felt like an eternity of uncertain dread.

After nearly an hour of separation, Rondón was finally reunited with her sons, 11-year-old Tomás and 3-year-old Luca. Tomás, accustomed to active shooter and fire drills at school, remained composed during the ordeal, even reassuring his mother through a friend's phone call that he was safe.

Another churchgoer, Ana Orellana, was seated near the front of the sanctuary when chaos erupted. She recounted hearing gunshots and being urged by a fellow worshipper to take cover. Without hesitation, Orellana and other worshippers fled towards the exits, driven by fear and the instinct to escape harm's way. Despite the initial panic, Orellana later confirmed the safety of her two children, aged 14 and 16, who were inside the building during the ordeal.