AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The weekend shooting at Joel Osteen’s megachurch in Houston is not the first time gunfire has caused panic and tragedy at a Texas house of worship.It also underscored the ease of bringing weapons into sanctuaries in a state with few limits on gun possession, as well as a growing effort by some churches to provide armed security, either through volunteers or paid off-duty officers.
The shooting Sunday at Lakewood Church ended when two off-duty officers, who were working security, returned fire on a shooter who police say entered the building with an AR-style rifle and a backpack.
Police identified the shooter as Genesse Ivonne Moreno, 36. Authorities said Moreno’s 7-year-old son, who the shooter brought into the church, was shot in the head and critically injured.
Here is a look at shootings at other places of worship in Texas and the laws surrounding firearms:
2017: SUTHERLAND SPRINGS
In November 2017, a gunman killed 26 people, including eight children, and wounded 20 more at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs. The gunman later died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after being shot and chased by two men who heard the gunfire at the church.
2019: WHITE SETTLEMENT
In December 2019, a man pulled out a shotgun during a service at West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement and killed two worshippers, before he was shot and killed by two congregants who were part of a volunteer security team.
1999: FORT WORTH
In September 1999, a man shot and killed seven people and wounded seven others before taking his own life at Wedgwood Baptist Church …
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The shooting Sunday at Lakewood Church ended when two off-duty officers, who were working security, returned fire on a shooter who police say entered the building with an AR-style rifle and a backpack.
Police identified the shooter as Genesse Ivonne Moreno, 36. Authorities said Moreno’s 7-year-old son, who the shooter brought into the church, was shot in the head and critically injured.
Here is a look at shootings at other places of worship in Texas and the laws surrounding firearms:
2017: SUTHERLAND SPRINGS
In November 2017, a gunman killed 26 people, including eight children, and wounded 20 more at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs. The gunman later died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after being shot and chased by two men who heard the gunfire at the church.
2019: WHITE SETTLEMENT
In December 2019, a man pulled out a shotgun during a service at West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement and killed two worshippers, before he was shot and killed by two congregants who were part of a volunteer security team.
1999: FORT WORTH
In September 1999, a man shot and killed seven people and wounded seven others before taking his own life at Wedgwood Baptist Church …nnDiscussion:nn” ai_name=”RocketNews AI: ” start_sentence=”Can I tell you more about this article?” text_input_placeholder=”Type ‘Yes'”]