Pastor is shot dead with his own gun after police suspect who hid overnight in Texas church wrestled weapon off him and opened fire

Cops were called to the Starrville Methodist Church near Winona on Sunday found the pastor shot dead, with his own gun

On Saturday night, Lindale police were chasing a suspect, Mytrez Deunte Woolen, 21, of Marshall, who was reportedly driving around with a shotgun pointed out the window

During chase at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour, Woolen eventually abandoned the car in the parking lot due to a blowout and ran into the woods behind the church

The suspect then hid in a bathroom stall in the church overnight to avoid capture 

On Sunday morning, the church’s pastor, Mark McWilliams, 62, of Frankston, opened a stall in the bathroom and found the suspect with the church’s red bank bag

Revd. McWilliams who was armed, pointed a gun at the Woolen and asked him to leave

The two grappled, the suspect, Woolen disarmed his victim, shot and killed the clergyman, stole the victim’s GMC truck and fled

Two people were found shot, one person died, while a third person sutained minor injuries

When law enforcement caught up with Woolen, he was driving the stolen car in Harrison County and had a gunshot wound on his hand

Cops recovered a weapon was recovered, along with the stolen truck

Woolen is also wanted in connection with a drive-by shooting that happened in Marshall on Saturday night

He is being held in Smith County Jail charged with multiple crimes including capital murder

His bonds total more than $2 million

A pastor was shot dead with his own gun Sunday after a car chase suspect who hid from Texas police in a church overnight wrestled the weapon off him and opened fire. 
The victim, was found dead at the Starrville Methodist Church near Winona, Texas, but the suspect had fled the crime scene.
Around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Lindale police were informed of a suspect, identified as Mytrez Deunte Woolen, 21, of Marshall, in a dark-colored car that reportedly had a shotgun pointed out the window.  
A chase ensued at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour, police said.
Woolen eventually left the car due to a blowout in the church parking lot and ran into the woods behind the church. 

The suspect then hid in a bathroom stall in the church overnight to avoid capture. 
Authorities had been using dogs and drones to search for Woolen late Saturday in woods near Winona. KLTV reports that cops searched around the church area until 10.30pm but the suspect was not found.  
On Sunday morning, the church’s pastor, Mark McWilliams, 62, of Frankston, opened a stall in the bathroom and found the suspect with the church’s red bank bag.

According to police reports, McWilliams was armed, pointed a gun at the Woolen and asked him to leave.
The two are said to have become involved in an altercation, during which the suspect, it is believed, disarmed his victim. He shot and killed the clergyman, took a 2018 GMC truck that belonged the victim and fled.
Woolen also shot at the pastor’s wife, Rosemary, but missed. However, she did sustain a shoulder injury from a fall while running away, cops said.
A second congregation member who was hit in the shoulder is hospitalized. A third church member suffered minor injuries.
When law enforcement caught up with Woolen, he was driving the stolen car in Harrison County and had a gunshot wound on his hand. 
He was arrested and a weapon was recovered, along with the stolen truck.
Woolen is also wanted in connection with a drive-by shooting that took place in Marshall on Saturday night, police said.
He is being held in Smith County Jail charged with multiple crimes including capital murder. His bonds total more than $2 million.

According to police there were no services going on when the shooting took place. The man appears to have taken shelter in the church out of convenience and there’s nothing to indicate the shooting was motivated by religious animus, the sheriff said. 
‘I don´t think it´s going to be any kind of hate motivation or anything,’ Christian said.
Gov. Greg Abbott sent his condolences.
‘Our hearts are with the victims and the families of those killed or injured in this terrible tragedy,’ he said in a statement.

Located in Winona, a small town about 100 miles east of Dallas, Starrville Methodist was built in 1853. Numerous state troopers and sheriff’s deputies could be seen outside the church, which was cordoned off with yellow tape late Sunday morning.