Crisis experts weigh in on an age-old question. Author: Shandel Menezes Updated: 10:36 PM CST January 8, 2021
TYLER, Texas In our houses of worship, that we have to fear for our safety is unconscionable to me,” said Bonnie Cook, a mental health executive and wife to a Methodist pastor. It does touch me in a different way.”
The shooting at Starrville Methodist Church left three people injured and Pastor Mark McWilliams dead.
Credit: TEGNA
The person responsible, Mytrez Woolen, is one of the countless active shooters who have been charged with murder in the United States.
Crisis expert and behavioral analyst, Dr. Rebecca Cowan, helped us get to the bottom of this.
When deputies arrived on scene, they found William Sellars sitting outside the church with what appeared to be gunshot wounds, according to the affidavit. Sellars told officials when he arrived at the church, he heard gunshots coming from inside. He said he then saw Woolen coming toward the front door and Woolen began shooting toward him. Sellars said he tried to run for cover, but was shot before the suspect drove off.
Another witness who was at the scene during the shooting said Pastor McWilliams opened a bathroom door and put up his hands. The pastor then told the suspect, who was holding the church s money bag, to leave the church. The witness said the pastor continued to tell the suspect to leave and took out his handgun. According to the affidavit, it was at this time Woolen rushed toward Pastor McWilliams and the two began fighting on the ground. Woolen was able to take the gun from the pastor and shot several times in the chest, the affidavit states. He then reportedly began