Two people are dead and one is in critical condition after a gunman opened fire during service this morning at the West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement, Texas.
The shooting was caught during a live internet stream of the church service (the streamed video on YouTube has since been taken down). A man dressed in a black trench coat with a hood jumped up and started shooting members of the church.
Luckily, at least five armed members of the church instantly responded and jumped into action as soon as the shooting started. Within three seconds of the first shot, one member shot the shooter and killed him before he could harm more people.
Emergency services were dispatched to the Church of Christ on Sunday morning around 9:57 a.m after receiving a call about a shooting and gunshot wounds.
The shooter is dead, one victim is dead and another victim has been transported to the hospital, @FOX4 has learned. The ages between the three range from 30-60 years old. Multiple agencies responding to the scene.
— David Sentendrey (@DavidSFOX4) December 29, 2019
Mike Drivdahl, a spokesman for the Forth Worth Fire Department, said three people were taken to the hospital in critical condition.
“A very tragic day when anybody in our community suffers,” he told reporters at a brief news conference. “Our hearts and prayers go out to all the families who are affected by this.”
Fort Worth police and fire were at the scene assisting White Settlement agencies, he said. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were also at the scene.
Tragic morning in White Settlement, where a gunman shoots up West Freeway Church of Christ. Reported that two are dead (including shooter), and another in critical condition. Also reports that gun-carrying church-goers shot the initial shooter. More on @WBAP247NEWS @570KLIF pic.twitter.com/dvh5LCTCev
— Scott Sidway (@ScottyWK) December 29, 2019
WFAA-TV (Channel 8) reported that the church shooting was captured on a live stream of Sunday’s worship service. In the video, which has since been taken down, a person stands and pulls out a weapon, then appears to fire twice before another person shoots back, according to WFAA.
Statement on shooting at West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement: pic.twitter.com/Crrrvavvs6
— Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) December 29, 2019
During a campaign stop in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in September, former VP Joe Biden slammed Texas for allowing church members to carry firearms to protect themselves in Church. When politicians like this tell you that guns don’t stop bad guys, remember this video!
Video From the Shooting
WARNING: This is extremely graphic! We are showing it for three reasons:
- The mainstream media and liberal politicians will never tell you how important good guys with guns are, and how your only option to stop this type of violence is to be armed yourself!
- The people who responded to this are heroes and should be recognized for their heroic actions! They saved countless lives!
- This shows you exactly how you should respond to an active shooter situation and how quickly these types of crimes can be stopped when you are armed! You are the only one that can save yourself!
The incident comes two years after a gunman opened fire inside another Texas church in one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history.
Protecting yourself from Mass Shooters
I dedicated an entire section of my book, The Ultimate Situational Survival Guide: Self-Reliance Strategies for a Dangerous World, to self-defense topics and understanding the criminal mind because I believe social unrest and violent attacks are some of the top threats we face.
Here are some articles that can help:
- How to Survive a Mass Shooting: What to do in an Active Shooter Situation
- Situational Awareness: How to Protect Yourself by Developing your Situational Awareness
- Protect Your children from School Shooters & Mass Shootings
- Social Unrest & Violent Attacks Sweeping the Country: The Media Cover-up and Why you Need to Be Prepared! If you’re not preparing for social unrest, you’re not prepared!
Goooooood !
Does God look at self defense as a sin, well neither do the courts… Yet the Pope says you are not a Christian if you own a gun… Well Pope, hide behind your armed guards , because of guarding an imbecile like you… is not a sin, or wrong now is it Pope true Pope ?
Color doesn’t matter. The issue is that these shootings are done by socialists and democrats.
So who dunnit and why? Any of you clams want to spill?
First of all my hearts and prayers to ALL who are involved in this tragedy.
I simultaneously want to thank the guy(s) that stopped the attacker preventing him from causing even more harm.
Though the good guy with the gun who shot the attacker must of course be seen as a hero, he likely didn’t choose to become one on that very day he went to church.
I’m so shocked that people had to die in this tragedy, but I must be allowed to say that the guy in the first picture, shown in the video at 00:13 on 1100 while standing up, calculated the situation totally wrong. You can see him drawing his weapon from 4 o’clock, still hasitating if the attacker is really willing to shoot. Maybe he couldn’t just imagine what was really going to happen.
For me it’s so hard to understand how to live on with that without having nightmares all night…everybody’s life who had to witness this situation will change forever from that moment on, I really hope you all will get along with it well. I can’t imagine how all of you feel, but I do think you are all not alone, you have your families to taking care of you and may God bless you all.
I’m writing from Germany. Most of you may know about our strict gun laws which once again just become stricter affecting only those peaceful people who already obey the laws for 100%.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a gun owner, hunter and sports shooter and I totally agree with all supporters of the 2nd amendment. But though in TX you are allowed to carry concealed, could this tragedy have been prevented by checking every visitor at the church’s entrance for guns as it is done in many public events?
This is what I saw. After being given communion from the black man standing in the back, the long black haired shooter then rises from his seat and moves towards the back of the room, like he wants to speak with the black man standing there. He stops 5 feet from him, leans in and begins speaking while reaching inside his trench coat and grasping onto something. The words must of been offensive, the black man quickly responds by directing him to leave the room by motioning with his hand. The shooter jerks the pistol grip on a sawed-off 12 gage pump shotgun which he has conceal inside his coat. As the weapon slides out the black man has half a second to lurch and grab it but he remains frozen as the tall white Texan seated next to him also sees the weapon. The white man automatically begins rising from his seat while reaching behind his back. A white security guard with gray hair in the back of the room also sees the weapon and begins drawing his weapon. With the shooters weapon pointed at the black man the tall Texan stands while drawing his handgun. He draws on the shooter as the shooter slides his aim from the black man to the white man and fires before the Texan can raise his weapon. That Texan had nerves of steel drawing on a shotgun like that. It would have taken a miracle for him to beat it but he tried anyway. He tried anyway. He gave his life for that guy without even giving it a thought. It dropped him instantly. That gave the black man another perfect opportunity to latch onto the weapon as the shooter almost lost it from the shot but he remains frozen. The shooter retargets him and blasts him next, he also drops instantly. The shooter then disregards them both and pivots while pumping another round into his weapon and aiming it into the center of the congregation. He prepares to shoot random members of the congregation as the gray haired security guard (who was now at full draw) follows the shooters bobbing and pivoting head in his sights. The shooters head jerks with the blast, his hair flips through the air and he collapses to the floor. The security guard approaches with military precision, slides past the victims without stepping on them and reacquires the target on the floor. Back-up arrives and the guard steps forward to kick at the shooter. He then reaches down and pries the shotgun from his hands. Some real hero’s there stepping up when it counts. Thought we lost that, it’s good to see that it’s still alive in Texas.
Thank God for our 2nd ammendment and good people carrying guns. Imagine how many people he would have injured or killed if we had to wait for the police. Im glad the shooter is dead and my heart goes out to those in the church who had to experience such an incident.
“There is hardly a more significant difference than that which exists between the people who want gun control and those who don’t. For there is a great temperamental and ideological divide between those who believe in self-defense and those who believe in surrendering and begging for mercy.”
Jesus came for all people and He loves us all the same. We are to love all people no matter what our differences are! Praying for all that were effected by this!
“Keith is a violent, paranoid person with a long line of assault and batteries with and without firearms… his ex-wife wrote in the documents”
The real question is was this person able to legally buy a gun in Texas, or how did he get the gun? Also the person who shot him was a security guard, apparently hired to protect the church service. Not exactly a ‘good guy’ who just happened to be there with a gun.
Churches will now install metal detectors and or have a pat down upon entering the church. South central Texas and he had a heavy black coat with a hood and the hood was being used. A red flag if I ever saw one. The lst good guy shooter may have picked up on this for he got his lst shot off within 3 to 4 seconds.
The crime stats do tell a story: Minorities do commit a disproportionatly large share of crime in this country. As someone said, “It’s the culture(s), stupid.” Thoughtful Christians will see this not just as a sign of potential danger but as a huge NEED for them to lovingly address. Like, reach out across the cultural devides. Besides that, the race haters here need to get their minds around the fact that it was a black man who undoubtedly saved the lives of numerous white men. I’m white as rice, but proudly call that dude my brother.
I am a retired British soldier RAMC When we attended church parade we left our weapons outside – weapons in church a no no – if in these times churches need to invest in metal detector wands so be it