Plans to tear down a small Texas church where a gunman in 2017 drew visitors Tuesday as a last-minute push was made to stop the demolition. Leaders of First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs have not publicly announced when it plans to demolish the sanctuary, where authorities put the number of dead from the shooting at 26 people, including a pregnant woman and her unborn baby, in what remains . On Tuesday, a Texas judge approved a temporary restraining order sought by some families to delay the demolition.
The order signed by Judge Jennifer Dillingham instructs the church to not to begin demolition and to appear before the court later this month. But Sam Fugate II, an attorney for the families that sought the restraining order, said the church had still not been served the order as of Tuesday afternoon and expressed concern that the demolition could still proceed. Christine Earnhardt, a secretary for the church, said Tuesday that she could not confirm whether a demolition was scheduled and that the church had no plans to comment or make a statement.
Following the shooting, the sanctuary was turned into a memorial. The interior was painted white and chairs with the names of those who were killed were placed there, the lawsuit said. The church then voted in 2021 to tear down the building, which opponents have contended was against the wishes of many surviving family members.
was completed for the congregation about a year and a half after the shooting. “We're not after mo.
