Shooting at Texas church leaves 3 dead, including shooter
Two parishioners are dead and the gunman after a shooting at West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement, Texas, Sunday morning.
Fort Worth Fire Department spokesman Mike Drivdahl said the White Settlement Police Department responded to a call about a victim with gunshot wounds at 9:57 a.m. local time.
The victims range in age from 30 to 60, according to KDFW-FOX 4.
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The ATF, FBI, Texas Rangers and DPS were also called to the scene to assist in the investigation.
One witness told KTVT-CBS 11 that during communion an unidentified gunman walked up to a server and shot him with a rifle or shotgun and then opened fire. The witness said an armed church member or church security guard then shot the suspect.
“It was the most scariest thing. You feel like your life is flashing before you. I was so worried about my little one,” Isabel Arreola told the CBS 11.
One of the victims had just finished reading Proverbs 13:22-25 before he was shot, WFAA reports.
***BREAKING***
— Matt Howerton (@HowertonNews) December 29, 2019
Longtime West Freeway Church member John Richardson survived this morning’s shooting.
He and his wife hit the ground and he laid on top of her to protect her.
Here he selflessly says that he’s praying for the suspect’s family. pic.twitter.com/QFFjGpqMai
The church service was being livestreamed at the time of the shooting, which lasted about six seconds, according to WFAA. As the communion part of the service was ending "a person wearing a large coat" stood up and fired two shots before being shot at and disarmed, the station added.
Some congregants were injured as they ducked under church pews while others ran toward the shooter.
The third shooting victim suffered cardiac arrest en route to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, MedStar said, but was revived and underwent surgery. He later died at the hospital.
In a written statement, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said:
"Our hearts go out to the victims and families of those killed in the evil act of violence that occurred at the West Freeway Church of Christ,” Abbott said. “Places of worship are meant to be sacred, and I am grateful for the church members who acted quickly to take down the shooter and help prevent further loss of life.”
Statement on shooting at West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement: pic.twitter.com/Crrrvavvs6
— Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) December 29, 2019
The shooting comes two years after the church shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs where a gunman fatally shot 26 parishioners and injured 20 others.
The identities of the victims and the shooter have not yet been released.
This is a developing story and information may be updated or changed.
