WHITE SETTLEMENT, TX — Law enforcement has confirmed that three people have been shot at a church in White Settlement. Law enforcement reported that three people are dead, including the shooter.
The shooter has been identified as Keith Thomas Kinnunen. Kinnunen has prior arrests in River Oaks, TX for unpaid traffic tickets and a warrant from Tarrant County for possession of narcotics in 2009. Kinnunen was also arrested in 2016 for Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in Linden, NJ.
The shooting happened at 11:15 a.m. Officials said the shooter entered the church, sat down with parishioners, got up and started shooting.
One was found deceased when officials arrived on scene, and the other died in transport. The third victim died at the hospital.
One of the victims of Sunday's Fort Worth church shooting has been identified as Tony Wallace.
Relatives said 64-year-old Anton “Tony” Wallace was a deacon at the West Freeway Church of Christ and was handing out communion at the time of the shooting.
Misty White, Richard “Rich” White’s daughter-in-law confirms to ABC News that White was one of the two parishioners killed at the West Freeway Church of Christ. He was 67-year-old, lived in River Oaks and was an armed member of the church's volunteer security team.
WARNING GRAPHIC VIDEO:
Both of the victims were male adults. Their identities are being withheld at this time.
Two other people were brought to the hospital after the shooting due to hitting their heads while they were trying to flee.
Law enforcement confirmed that the deceased on scene was the suspected shooter. Law enforcement said that two people shot at the suspect, fatally wounding him.
Officials also said that suspect had been arrested in the past and was a transient.
#BREAKING UPDATE: @MedStarEMSInfo: One person has now died after that shooting at a church in White Settlement. Two others remain in critical condition.
— CBSDFW (@CBSDFW) December 29, 2019
White Settlement is in Tarrant County and is west of Fort Worth.
They said the shooting happened Sunday morning at the West Freeway Church of Christ.
WFAA reports that the church was livestreaming when the shooting happened. It appears in the video that when one person began shooting, others shot back.
The church confirmed that they have their own trained security team that consisted of church members and volunteers.
Parishioners at the mostly-full church ducked for cover behind pews and covered their heads during the attack, the livestream showed.
The shooting was over in 6 seconds. 242 people were in the church at the time of the shooting.
The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating the incident. They are being assisted by the FBI.
The Texas Attorney General's Office tweeted out that their office will be responding in any way that is needed.
ATF is also sending agents to the scene. The NYPD Counterterrorism Bureau said they are monitoring the situation.
We are shocked and saddened to hear reports of a shooting at a church in White Settlement.
— Texas Attorney General (@TXAG) December 29, 2019
As reports come in, please pray for any victims and their families, this congregation, and the law enforcement officials at the scene. My office will assist in any way needed.
We are monitoring the reports of a church shooting at the West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement, Texas pic.twitter.com/a02SJvCVPd
— NYPDCounterterrorism (@NYPDCT) December 29, 2019
Governor Greg Abbott released the following statement on the shooting:
"Our hearts 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. Cecilia and I ask all Texans to join us in praying for the White Settlement community and for all those affected by this horrible tragedy."
