USA: 2 dead in church shooting in Texas; shooter eliminated by worshipers

At the White Stallement town church, there were more than 240 gunfire, which ended quickly thanks to two armed volunteers, who fired it in six seconds. It is unclear if they are the victims. The motive has not yet been discovered, but authorities have praised the swift response. "Many human lives are saved"

Worshipers hid under the benches. Church shooting, yesterday (Photo: AP)

Man shoots at church in Texas, December 29, 2019 (Photo: AP)

Two worshipers were killed yesterday (Sunday) in a church shooting in the state of Texas, United States, which ended when those in attendance returned fire and killed the shooter, who was armed with a shotgun. Authorities praised the two worshipers who returned fire, as part of a volunteer security team at White Church Township. It is unclear if the two killed were the ones who fired at the gunman.

"The team responded quickly and within six seconds, the shooting was over. They fired the shooter quickly, rescuing a large number of people," said Deputy Governor Dan Patrick, who praised the state's gun maintenance laws.

Britt Farmer, a senior at West Freeway Church, said "we lost two wonderful people, but it could have been much worse." There were more than 240 people at the shooting. Local police chief J.P. Boeing said the shooter was sitting on one of the church's benches before he got up and opened fire. The event was documented live by the church, and as the shooting began, worshipers sounded screaming and hiding under bunks or runners.

The shooting record

Authorities have not yet released the names of those killed or the shooter, whose motive has not yet been made clear. The FBI agent in charge of the investigation, Matthew de Sereno, said the agency was investigating the shooter's motives. He said he was not a resident of the town, but had roots in the area. He added that he had been arrested many times in the past, but did not elaborate further.

Mike Tinius, one of the oldest members of the church, told the New York Times that one of the fatalities was a security guard who responded to the shooting. He called him a dear friend. "He was trying to do what he had to do to protect us," he said. "It is very frustrating to see someone committing a violent act." Tinius added that he did not know the shooter and that he believed the shooting was random. The church did not respond to questions on the matter.

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Governor Greg Abbott asked to pray for the victims, for their families and for the town's residents. "Prayer houses are supposed to be sacred places, and I am grateful to members of the church who acted swiftly to neutralize the shooter and prevent further loss of life," the governor wrote on Twitter.

This is not the first fatal shooting to happen in a church in Texas. In 2017, 25 worshipers were killed by gunfire at a church in Sutherland Springs, and in 1999, a man killed seven people at a Fort Worth church before operating an explosive device from which he was killed.

Texas shooting was also the second offensive at a religious gathering across the United States in just one day. On Saturday night, five people stabbed five people during Chanukah celebrations at a multi-city home in Monsey, New York.