Pastor killed, two injured in shooting at a Texas church

WINONA, Texas — A pastor was killed and two people injured in a shooting Sunday at an east Texas church after the pastor confronted a man who had hidden from police in the church overnight, a local sheriff said.

Authorities had been using dogs and drones to search for the man late Saturday in woods near Winona after a car chase, and the pastor of the nearby Starrville Methodist Church discovered him hiding in a bathroom Sunday morning, Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said at a news conference. Smith declined to say why authorities had been searching for the man.

The pastor drew a gun and ordered the man to stop, Smith said, but the man grabbed the weapon and began shooting with it. The pastor was killed, a second person was injured by gunf ire, and another was hurt in a fall.

The suspect stole the pastor’s vehicle and f led east before being arrested by deputies in nearby Harrison County, Smith said. He said the suspect was hospitalized Sunday afternoon with gunshot wounds to his hand, although it is unclear when he was shot.

Smith declined to identify the pastor, those injured or the suspect. The sheriff said the suspect will probably face a capital murder charge.

It’s unclear when the man entered the church in Starrville, about 100 miles east of Dallas.

The shooting was reported around 9: 20 a. m.; there were no church services at that time, said Sgt. Larry Christian of the sheriff ’ s office. Smith said the pastor, his wife and two others were in the church at the time of the incident.

The suspect appears to have taken shelter in the church out of convenience, the sheriff said, and there is no indication that the shooting was motivated by religious animus.

“This is not a church- related, religion- related offense,” Smith said.

Gov. Greg Abbott sent his condolences.

“Our hearts are with the victims and the families of those killed or injured in this terrible tragedy,” he said in a statement.

Representatives of Starrville Methodist Church could not immediately be reached for comment.