Violent Fugitive Kills Texas Pastor in Church

WINONA, TX – A pastor was shot and killed with his own gun Sunday by a man hiding from the police in the Starrville Methodist Church in Winona, TX.

According to the Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith, on Jan. 3 at around 9:20 a.m., deputies with the Smith County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the Starrville Methodist Church for the report of a shooting. When they arrived they found two people who had suffered gunshots wounds inside of the church.

Two people were taken to the hospital, one for a gunshot wound and the other for a injuries due to a fall. The pastor of the church, Pastor Mark Allen McWilliams, died from the gun shot wounds at the church.

Deputies say the suspect is 21-year-old Mytrez Deunte Woolen of Marshall.

Sheriff Smith says that Woolen had crashed his car the night prior and fled the area from police. He then found the Starrville Methodist church and went inside to hide from authorities.

He entered the church at around two in the morning and hid inside of a bathroom until Pastor McWilliams opened up the church. As McWilliams entered the church he discovered Woolen hiding in the bathroom of the church clutching a handgun.

McWilliams, who was armed as well, demanded Woolen to stop and get on the ground. Woolen complied until the pastor got distracted by his wife. This is when Woolen rushed McWilliams, got his gun and fired it, killing the pastor.

Woolen then ran out of the church and stole McWilliam's car. Police later located it with the help of OnStar.

Woolen was captured in Harrison County and was taken to the Smith County Jail. 

He has been charged with capital murder.