Officials: 3 Dead, Including Gunman, Following Fatal Church Shooting In White Settlement
FULL COVERAGE: NORTH TEXAS CHURCH SHOOTING
WHITE SETTLEMENT, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) — Three people have been confirmed dead, including the gunman, following the fatal shooting at a church in White Settlement.
Just before 11 a.m. Dec. 29, police responded to a shooting at the West Freeway Church of Christ on Las Vegas Trail, where the service was being live streamed on their website.
WATCH: North Texas Church Livestream Catches Moment Armed Gunman Opens Fire
In the video, the gunman walked up to a server during communion with a shotgun, shot two people, then turned around and aimed at the pastor but missed as he was shot in action by a church security team member.
The parishioners, as well as the suspect, died from their injuries. Their names are not being released at this time.
In a news conference Sunday night, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said the heroism parishioners showed Sunday is "unparalleled."
"This team responded quickly and within six seconds the shooting was over. Two of the parishioners who were volunteers on the security force drew their weapon and took out the killer immediately — saving an untold number of lives," Patrick said. "Had the shooter been able to indiscriminately start firing into the parishioners sitting there infront of him or the pastor, we would have had many more lives lost today and many more serious injuries."
Regional Director for the Texas Department of Public Safety Jeff Williams said it cannot be overstated how important it is to recognize what the parishioners did inside the church.
"The citizens who were inside that church, undoubtedly saved 242 other parishioners," Williams said.
WATCH: The White Settlement Police Department Holds Second News Conference Following Fatal Church Shooting
Officials said the suspect had roots in the area and had been arrested multiple times by different municipals.
A motive has yet to be determined and this remains an ongoing investigation.
