Plans to demolish the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, where a mass shooting occurred in 2017 killing over two dozen people, including a pregnant woman and her unborn child, have drawn visitors seeking to stop the demolition. The church’s leaders have not disclosed when the sanctuary will be torn down, while a last-minute effort is underway to halt the process.
Relatives of the victims and community members visited the church on Tuesday, paying their respects and placing roses in memory of those who lost their lives in the tragic event. Roxanna Avants, a resident who moved to Sutherland Springs after the shooting, emphasized the church’s significance as a place of remembrance and a house of worship.
A temporary restraining order was approved by a Texas judge on Tuesday, requested by some families affected by the shooting, to postpone the demolition. Despite the order, concerns were raised that the church had not yet been served the directive, and demolition could still proceed.
Following the shooting, the church was transformed into a memorial, adorned with white paint and chairs bearing the names of the deceased. The decision to tear down the building was made in 2021, sparking opposition from some surviving family members who claim they were not given a say in the matter.
Other locations of past mass shootings, such as Parkland, Florida, and Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, have seen different outcomes, with some demolished and replaced while others were renovated and reopened. The fate of the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs remains uncertain as the community grapples with the decision to preserve or tear down the memorial site.
