Armed woman wearing trench coat walked into Joel Osteen’s church with small child and opened fire: Cops

A woman opened fire at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, on Feb. 11, 2024, authorities said. (Screenshot: KPRC)

Texas authorities say that a woman opened fire at Lakewood Church, the church of pastor and televangelist Joel Osteen.

Wearing a trench coat, armed with a long rifle, and accompanied by a child aged 4 or 5, she arrived at the property at about 1:53 p.m., and opened fire after entering the building, said Houston Police Chief Troy Finner.

This was in between services.

At one point, the woman, approximately aged 30 to 35 years old, allegedly claimed to have a bomb. She also sprayed a substance on the ground, the chief told reporters.

An off-duty agent for the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and off-duty officer for Houston police were there, and they confronted her, shooting and killing her, Finner said.

“Unfortunately, the five-year-old kid was hit, and is in critical condition at our local hospital,” he told reporters.

A 57-year-old man, who apparently had nothing to do with the incident, was shot in the leg, Finner said. He is also receiving treatment.

In light of the woman’s bomb threat, authorities searched her backpack and vehicle but found no explosives, he said.

“It could have been a lot worse,” Finner said.