Texas Church Shooting Caught On Video: 3 Dead As Gunman Opens Fire During Service

The White Settlement Police Department (WSPD) in White Settlement, a city in Tarrant County, Texas, and the FBI remain puzzled by the motive of a shooter who took communion before shooting dead two persons with a shotgun at the crowded West Freeway Church of Christ at 9:57 a.m. Sunday morning. White Settlement is only a 15-minute drive from Fort Worth.

The unidentified shooter was later shot dead by a security guard in a gun battle broadcast on the church's YouTube livestream. Of the three injured, one person with gunshot wounds remains in critical condition at a local hospital while two other persons suffered head injuries as they ducked for cover.

One slain churchgoer, who was an usher at the church, died en route to a hospital. The gunman was pronounced dead at the scene. He wore a fake beard and sunglasses and had a trench coat on, said WSPD officers. The identities of the slain haven't been released. The victims range in age from 30 to 60 years old, according to MedStar, the ambulance service provider serving Fort Worth and other cities in North Texas.

Video of the shooting shows the church service ongoing when the gunman stands-up and confronts an usher. The footage shows the gunman take a step back before pulling a shotgun from his coat and firing point-blank at the usher and another member of the congregation. Two loud gunshots can be heard.

The video then shows a security guard posted near the front door of the church fire on and hit the suspect. An armed parishioner also fired at the suspect, said the WSPD. The video, however, only shows the security guard firing on the gunman.

The video of the shooting was published by New York Post.

There is confusion as to how many times the gunman was hit. David McClelland with the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office later said the shooter suffered a single gunshot wound, but it’s unclear who fired this fatal shot.

Parishioners fled in all directions as the gun battle occurred. Others could be heard screaming and crying. Still other armed churchgoers are shown rushing towards the fallen gunman.

"Everything is under control," said a church leader on the livestream to terrified members of the congregation. He said the church's security team did everything they needed to do. Other church leaders urged parishioners to stay calm and leave the church.

"The suspect is deceased, and the threat has stopped thanks to the heroic action of those two parishioners at the church," said WSPD Chief J.P. Bevering at a news conference Sunday afternoon.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said the hearts of Texans "go out to the victims and families of those killed in the evil act of violence that occurred at the West Freeway Church of Christ. Places of worship are meant to be sacred, and I am grateful for the church members who acted quickly to take down the shooter and help prevent further loss of life."

The FBI is assisting in the investigation, said Matthew Desarno, special agent in charge of FBI's Dallas field office. He said the FBI is "working very hard to find a motive, to get to the bottom of what happened."

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton asked for prayers for "any victims and their families, this congregation, and the law enforcement officials at the scene."

An eyewitness said it was the scariest thing she'd ever experienced.

“It was the most scariest thing," said an eyewitness to the shooting to KTVT. "You feel like your life is flashing before you. I was so worried about my little one."