Armed worshippers kill gunman
Church members acted quickly to kill a gunman who opened fire Sunday at West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement, authorities said.
The gunman fatally shot a person and critically wounded another before several members of the congregation returned fire during a service at the church, White Settlement Police Chief JP Bevering said. The gunman died at the scene, Bevering said.
The shooting appeared to happen during communion, according to a livestream video of the service obtained by the StarTelegram.
A man was standing toward the back of the sanctuary holding a tray when the shooter got up from a nearby pew, walked toward the man and appeared to say something to him. The gunman then backed up, pulled out a shotgun, and fired a shot toward a man who was seated nearby. He then fired a shot toward at the man holding the tray.
A man in the back then pointed a handgun at the gunman and fired one shot. The gunman fell and at least three or four more people armed with handguns walk toward the gunman.
‘‘Unfortunately this country has seen so many of these that we’ve actually gotten used to them at this point,’’ said Jeff Williams, a regional director of the Texas Department of Public Safety. ‘‘I would like to point out that we have a couple of heroic parishioners who stopped short of anything you can even imagine and saved countless lives, our hearts are going out to them and their families as well.’’ FBI Special Agent in Charge Matthew Desarno said investigators are still determining a motive. The Department of Public Safety and the Texas Rangers will lead the investigation. One person was revived while being taken to the hospital, a MedStar spokeswoman said. That person is now in surgery, MedStar said. Two others were treated at the scene for minor injuries after they hit their heads ducking for cover.
White Settlement and Fort Worth police and fire departments were packed on the street and the church parking lot at noon. South Las Vegas Trail was blocked by police cars.
Crime scene tape was strung up along the Waffle House parking lot next to the church.
A clerk at the petrol station across the street from the church said the church has a large congregation but seemed less busy yesterday. He said police asked him for the petrol station’s surveillance footage, but he did not see much on the video.
‘‘A very tragic day when anybody in our community suffers, whether it’s a community that’s next to Fort Worth or in Fort Worth itself. Our hearts and prayers go out to all the families affected by this incident,’’ said Mike Drivdahl, a Fort Worth Fire Department spokesman. .
‘‘It not only affects the people that were here today, but it affects our first responders as well,’’ Drivdahl said. ‘‘All of our first responders carry these things with them for a long time.’’ Governor Greg Abbot credited the quick action of those who shot the gunman.
‘‘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,’’ he said in a statement. ‘‘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.’’
A Texas law went into effect in September 2017 that allows churches to hire armed guards. Attorney General Ken Paxton clarified months later that the law also allows licensed handgun owners to bring their firearms to church as long as the church does not oppose it. – TNS