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Shooting at Texas Church Leaves 2 Dead and 1 Critically Wounded, Officials Say Shooting at Texas Church Leaves 2 Parishioners Dead, Officials Say
(about 1 hour later)
WHITE SETTLEMENT, Texas — A gunman opened fire at a church in Texas on Sunday morning, killing one person and critically wounding another before a member of its volunteer security team fatally shot him, the authorities and witnesses said. WHITE SETTLEMENT, Texas — A gunman opened fire at a church in Texas on Sunday morning, killing two people with a shotgun before a member of the church’s volunteer security team fatally shot him, the authorities said.
Between 250 and 300 people were inside the auditorium of the West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement, near Fort Worth, when the gunman began shooting just before communion, said Jack Cummings, a minister at the church. About 250 people were inside the auditorium of the West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement, near Fort Worth, when the gunman began shooting just before communion, said Jack Cummings, a minister at the church.
Mr. Cummings said the gunman was “acting suspiciously” before the shooting and drew the attention of the church’s security team. The team, he said, has existed for at least 10 years and is made up of members of the church’s congregation who are licensed to carry firearms and practice shooting regularly.Mr. Cummings said the gunman was “acting suspiciously” before the shooting and drew the attention of the church’s security team. The team, he said, has existed for at least 10 years and is made up of members of the church’s congregation who are licensed to carry firearms and practice shooting regularly.
“They saved a lot of lives today,” Mr. Cummings said. “Because this thing would have been a massacre otherwise.”“They saved a lot of lives today,” Mr. Cummings said. “Because this thing would have been a massacre otherwise.”
A member of the security team was killed in the attack, he said.A member of the security team was killed in the attack, he said.
Mike Tinius, an elder at the church, said he had known that victim for more than 20 years. “He was trying to do what he needed to do to protect the rest of us,” Mr. Tinius said, adding, “It’s extremely upsetting to see anyone committing violence.”Mike Tinius, an elder at the church, said he had known that victim for more than 20 years. “He was trying to do what he needed to do to protect the rest of us,” Mr. Tinius said, adding, “It’s extremely upsetting to see anyone committing violence.”
The shooting was captured on video because the church regularly posts its services online. The shooting, which the authorities said lasted six seconds, was captured on video because the church regularly posts its services online.
In the video, the gunman stands up during a quiet moment and briefly talks with someone leaning against a wall. He then steps back and begins firing. Congregants crouch down in their pews. After a third loud bang, the gunman slumps to the ground as people scream. In the video, the gunman stands up during a quiet moment and briefly talks with someone standing against a wall. He then begins firing. Congregants crouch down in their pews. After a third loud bang, the gunman slumps to the ground as people scream.
“He was immediately hit by one of our marksmen,” Mr. Cummings said. “The next thing I know, he was lying on the floor.”“He was immediately hit by one of our marksmen,” Mr. Cummings said. “The next thing I know, he was lying on the floor.”
When the police received reports of shots fired, off-duty officers down the street quickly responded and found an active shooting scene, said Mike Drivdahl, a spokesman for the Fort Worth Fire Department. The authorities did not release the names of the two parishioners who had been killed or the gunman, whom the F.B.I. special agent in charge of Dallas described as a transient person with roots in the area. The agent, Matthew J. DeSarno, said the investigation into a motive was continuing.
It was not immediately clear whether there was a connection between the gunman and the church or if the church had been targeted. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said on Twitter that it was sending agents to the scene. The gunman had a previous arrest record but was not on a watch list, said Mr. DeSarno, who declined to elaborate on the nature of the arrests. It was not clear whether there was a connection between the gunman and the church or if the church had been targeted.
“We are working very hard to find a motive, to get to the bottom of what happened,” Matthew J. DeSarno, the F.B.I.’s special agent in charge in Dallas, said at a news conference on Sunday afternoon. With a row of law enforcement officers and the lieutenant governor of Texas behind him at an evening news conference, Britt Farmer, the church’s senior minister, indirectly expressed support for the Second Amendment.
“We lost two great men today,” he said. “It could have been a lot worse. I’m thankful that our government has allowed us the opportunity to protect ourselves.”
A Texas bill that took effect in September allows licensed handgun owners to carry those weapons in churches, synagogues and other places of worship.
Mr. Cummings said the church had added a security team because of “the fact that people go into schools and shoot people.”Mr. Cummings said the church had added a security team because of “the fact that people go into schools and shoot people.”
“We got a history in this nation of people doing this,” he said.“We got a history in this nation of people doing this,” he said.
Houses of worship have been attacked several times in recent years, including shootings at synagogues in Poway, Calif., and Pittsburgh. On Saturday night in Monsey, N.Y., a man with a large knife burst into the home of a Hasidic rabbi, stabbing and wounding five people who were celebrating Hanukkah.Houses of worship have been attacked several times in recent years, including shootings at synagogues in Poway, Calif., and Pittsburgh. On Saturday night in Monsey, N.Y., a man with a large knife burst into the home of a Hasidic rabbi, stabbing and wounding five people who were celebrating Hanukkah.
Texas churches have also experienced such violence. In 1999, a gunman killed seven people and himself at a Baptist church in Fort Worth. And in 2017, a gunman carrying a military-style rifle and wearing a ballistic vest opened fire at a small Baptist church in Sutherland Springs, killing 26 people. Texas churches have also experienced such violence. In 1999, a gunman killed seven people and himself at a Baptist church in Fort Worth. And in 2017, a gunman with a ballistic vest strapped to his chest and a military-style rifle in his hands opened fire at a small Baptist church in Sutherland Springs, killing 26 people.
“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,” Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas said in a statement about Sunday’s shooting.“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,” Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas said in a statement about Sunday’s shooting.
A Texas bill that took effect in September allows licensed handgun owners to carry those weapons in churches, synagogues and other places of worship. When the police received reports of shots fired, off-duty officers down the street quickly responded and found an active shooting scene, said Mike Drivdahl, a spokesman for the Fort Worth Fire Department.
Hours after the attack, police cars surrounded the church while a helicopter hovered overhead and people leaned over yellow police tape at a nearby Waffle House. Officers brought in packages of bottled water as federal agents huddled in conversation. The Salvation Army gave out coffee from a truck. Hours after the attack, police cars surrounded the church while a helicopter hovered overhead and onlookers leaned over yellow police tape at a nearby Waffle House. Officers brought in packages of bottled water as federal agents huddled in conversation. The Salvation Army gave out coffee from a truck.
John Richardson, a congregant, said he had put his wife, who uses a wheelchair, on the ground and got on top of her after hearing the initial gunfire. When he looked up, several members of church security had their guns drawn.John Richardson, a congregant, said he had put his wife, who uses a wheelchair, on the ground and got on top of her after hearing the initial gunfire. When he looked up, several members of church security had their guns drawn.
“My heart goes out to his family,” he said of the gunman, adding, “I don’t have any hate for this person.”“My heart goes out to his family,” he said of the gunman, adding, “I don’t have any hate for this person.”
Last week at the West Freeway Church of Christ, congregants filled the wooden pews and sang together, according to a video of the service. Children ran to the stage to talk about why they were excited for Christmas, and a minister spoke about the benefits of pruning parts of life that no longer bear fruit. Last week at the church, congregants filled the wooden pews and sang together, according to a video of the service. Children ran to the stage to talk about why they were excited for Christmas, and a minister spoke about the benefits of pruning parts of life that no longer bear fruit.
The church concluded that service on a note of accepting and giving love to others.The church concluded that service on a note of accepting and giving love to others.
Its next Sunday service ended in gunfire.Its next Sunday service ended in gunfire.
“We are continuing to hold on to what we believe,” Mr. Tinius said. “That doesn’t change.” “We like to say we’re a place your family can call home,” said Mr. Farmer, the senior minister. “Today our home was invaded by evil.”
Patrick McGee reported from White Settlement, and Mihir Zaveri from New York. Jason M. Bailey, Sandra E. Garcia, Christopher Mele, Mariel Padilla and Vanessa Swales contributed reporting from New York, and Dave Montgomery from Austin, Texas. Patrick McGee reported from White Settlement, and Mihir Zaveri from New York. Jason M. Bailey, Sandra E. Garcia, Christopher Mele, Mariel Padilla, Vanessa Swales and Neil Vigdor contributed reporting from New York, and Dave Montgomery from Austin, Texas.