West Freeway Church of Christ shooting

The West Freeway Church of Christ shooting took place on December 29, 2019, in White Settlement, Texas. Two people in the congregation were killed before the gunman was fatally shot by 71 year old Jack Wilson, a volunteer security team member. The attack was live-streamed, as are all services at the church.[2] Video of the shooting appeared online in real time, and was captured, leading to multiple Twitter posts and YouTube videos showing the actual crime in progress.

West Freeway Church of Christ shooting
Location1900 S Las Vegas Trail
White Settlement, Texas, U.S.
DateDecember 29, 2019 (2019-12-29)
Attack type
Shooting
WeaponsSawed-off shotgun (12-gauge)
Deaths3 (including the perpetrator)
PerpetratorKeith Thomas Kinnunen
DefendersJack Wilson[1]

Shooting

The perpetrator shot and killed two members of the church before he was fatally shot by Jack Wilson, another church member, ending the attack within six seconds. The victims were Anton Wallace, age 64, and Richard White, age 67.[3] Wilson is a firearms instructor and a former reserve deputy sheriff in Hood County, Texas.[4][1]

Wilson indicated that five or six other members of the church assembly also drew their own weapons in response to the shooting.[4][1]

Perpetrator

The gunman was identified as Keith Thomas Kinnunen, age 43, of River Oaks, Texas.[5] He was wearing a fake beard and a wig and immediately raised the suspicions of the security deacons serving the church.[6]

Reaction

Given that an armed church member shot and killed the attacker with the church member's concealed firearm, preventing the attack from continuing and more lives being taken, gun-rights advocates are using the shooting as an example of the benefits of private citizens carrying firearms.[7]

Michael Bloomberg responded to the shooting by saying that only law enforcement officers should be allowed to carry guns and make decisions on when to shoot active shooters, generating controversy.[8]

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See also

References
  1. "Armed parishioner says he's 'no hero,' as new details emerge about the Texas church shooter". ABC News. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
  2. Eric Levenson; Konstantin Toropin; Amir Vera. "Texas pastor says he knew and helped the gunman before the shooting". CNN.
  3. "Police: Parishioners kill man who fatally shoots 2 at church". December 30, 2019.
  4. "Church's Head of Security Says He 'Killed an Evil,' Not a Human in Taking Down Gunman". NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
  5. "'We Knew He Was Crazy, But Not Like This,' Ex-Wife of Church Gunman Says".
  6. "Texas church shooter wore suspicious wig and fake beard, says security head who shot him | National Post". December 31, 2019.
  7. "Gun-Rights Advocates See Lessons in Texas Church Shooting". The Wall Street Journal. December 31, 2019.
  8. "Michael Bloomberg's outrageous response to the Texas church shooting". Washington Examiner. 2020-01-04. Retrieved 2020-01-10.
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