Starrville methodist church pastor2/29/2024 ![]() They believe the suspect hid in the church because it was convenient. The shooting suspect fled in the pastor's vehicle but was later arrested.Īccording to USA Today, police said the shooting was not motivated by church or religion. Woolen shot and killed the 62-year-old pastor, wounded another person and a third was injured in a fall. But McWilliams became distracted and Woolen was able to grab the weapon from McWilliams. Smith says Pastor Mark Allen McWilliams confronted Woolen in a church bathroom on Sunday morning.Īfter discovering Woolen in a bathroom, CNN reported that McWilliams drew a gun and ordered Woolen to lay down. Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith says the suspected gunman, 21-year-old Mytrez Deunte Woolen, was on the run from authorities late Saturday and had hidden in the Starrville Methodist Church near Winona. He was arrested for assault in an Arlington family violence case, with a hearing scheduled for later this month.WINONA, Texas (AP) - Authorities say a pastor has been killed and two other people were injured during a shooting at an East Texas church. Woolen’s criminal history extends to North Texas, too. The Smith County sheriff says he’s since learned woolen is also the suspect in a recent drive-by shooting and another shooting incident in nearby Marshall. "I think that justice should be passed on to him, and he should receive the same justice he gave to Mark." "I’m glad he’s in custody," Pritchard said. Police say Woolen stole a truck from the parking lot and got away, but the vehicle had OnStar, which disabled the truck after a short chase. Police say Woolen shot and killed the pastor, shot at his wife but missed and shot a third person who had non life-threatening injuries. "The pastor got distracted talking to his wife, and the suspect lunged at him and was able to get the firearm out of his hands." "However, there was some confusion during that time, and he made the suspect lie down on the floor," Smith said. Police say Woolen had broken in overnight and hid out until McWilliams and his wife arrived to prepare for Sunday service and discovered him hiding in a bathroom. Pastor Mark McWilliams’ wife called to report he’d been shot. Then Sunday morning, a 911 call came from Starrville Methodist church. Police believed Woolen had escaped the perimeter and scaled back the search. "We found part of one of his shoes or boots which was outside the perimeter we set up," Sheriff Smith said. Woolen bailed and took off into the woods, turning the car chase into an hours-long manhunt. And believe it or not, the Volkswagen Jetta had one donut, the little spare tire on it which finally gave way," said Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith. "He reached speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. It ended near Pritchard’s home and the Starrville Methodist Church. ![]() After police spotted the car, a chase began. READ MORE: Pastor dead, 2 hurt in shooting at East Texas churchĬalls first went out Saturday in nearby Lindale about a man brandishing a shotgun through the sunroof of a Volkswagen Jetta. ![]() Police say Woolen, who spent part of his childhood in Arlington including his freshman year at Arlington Martin High, was desperate not to get caught. "I went out there to see what was going on and they told me to go back inside because the guy who was in the car had jumped out of the car and ran into the woods." Something running into something," he recalled. "My wife and I heard some big kind of loud noises. Tom Pritchard described the commotion Saturday evening that caused this damage and deep gashes in the grass near his home.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |