One pastor was killed and two others were injured in a gunfight at a Texas church on Sunday, Governor Greg Abbott said in a statement.
The shooting occurred Sunday morning at the Starrville Methodist Church in Starrville, about 100 miles east of Dallas. The suspect, who is in custody, was fleeing the police after an incident on Saturday night and had entered the church to hide, said Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith.
A pastor at the Starrville Methodist Church found the man hiding in a bathroom around 9:21 am when he, his wife and several others entered the church on Sunday morning. The suspect fled, but returned to the church in the midst of a morning chase by the authorities.
“He starts to come towards the front door, so he turns and launches himself against the pastor and was able to disarm the pastor, it looks like at this point,” said Smith. “He used … the pastor’s firearm was the one he used. The pastor has passed away at this point. “
Another person was being treated for a gunshot wound and his condition was unknown, Smith said. Someone was also being treated for a fall during the incident.
The suspect was found after allegedly stealing the pastor’s vehicle to escape the scene and was detained in Harrison County, Smith said. He was wounded by a shot in the hand, but it was not clear when he was shot.
Abbott sent his condolences to the victims and their families on Sunday in his statement, which did not identify the pastor or suspect.
“The State of Texas is working closely with the first respondents and local authorities to ensure that justice is done and that the Starrville community has the resources it needs during this period,” said Abbott.
Smith said the incident is being investigated as a case of capital murder, but the shooting does not appear to have been motivated by anti-religious sentiment.
“This is a crime of opportunity for this man, I suspect,” said Smith. “It turns out that the church was here. It may have been one of the houses he entered, but he knew there were people there … I think he probably just came there to seek shelter.”
The sheriff did not give details of why the suspect was wanted on Saturday, but said authorities are working to obtain the suspect’s arrest warrant.
Smith did not disclose the name of the suspect or any other victim of the shooting.
