A religious leader in Arizona is fighting for his life after being shot in the head earlier this week while preaching on a street corner in Glendale.
Hans Schmidt, 26, a military medic and Christian father of two, was shot Wednesday around 6:15 p.m. in the area of 51st Avenue and Peoria, according to local authorities.
The shooting took place while Schmidt, who had recently moved to Arizona and is now hospitalized in critical condition, was preaching the gospel on the street and promoting a nearby church service.
“This is a horrible, horrible event. We have a 26-year-old man who is in the military, who recently got married and has two young children. He is in critical condition,” said Gina Winn of the Glendale Police Department, according to FOX 10.
Victory Chapel, where Schmidt served as outreach director, released an update on Schmidt’s condition on Friday. “The family is encouraged by what they are seeing,” the church said, asking for continued prayer.
The shooting is under investigation and authorities are looking for clues to identify who was responsible for the attack. According to authorities, it is unclear at this time whether Schmidt was the target or if the shooting was a random act of violence.
Hans Schmidt, left, was shot Wednesday in Glendale, Arizona.AZFamily | Arizona News
“51st Avenue and Peoria is a very busy intersection, so we know for a fact that there were people within the area. There were vehicles traveling within the area, so we believe there is someone within the Valley who does know something about what happened,” said Winn, Glendale police public information officer. “We believe there is someone in the Valley who knows what happened. If he saw a person or vehicle, he is asked to call the Glendale Police Department.”
Paul Sanchez, who works near the area where the shooting occurred, told AZ Family that people who passed by Schmidt when he was preaching yelled and cursed at him.
The intersection is at 51st Avenue and Peoria in Glendale.AZFamily | Arizona News
“There was everything, really: hateful comments, people yelling at him: ‘Get off the street,’ all kinds of bad things,” recalled Sánchez, who could not believe that the situation had escalated in the way that it had. did.
Another person who works in the area, the owner of Jesse James Comics, expressed disbelief at the situation after police asked him to move his vehicle after the shooting.
“When I got out, they had switched all the traffic, so all the traffic was down to one lane going through the complex,” James told FOX 10.
After learning what happened, James said he is more aware of his surroundings. “It’s such a congested area. . . I always thought they might get hit by a car. “I didn’t know they would be shot,” James said.
Schmidt recently married and has two young children.AZFamily | Arizona News
“After tonight, I think we just have to take those additional steps,” he added. “Closing at the right time. . . making sure that during the night we have additional people on the floor. . . Let’s just be a little more aware of our surroundings.”
So far no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting. However, a statement on the matter from the Glendale Police Department said detectives investigating the incident “believe there are additional witnesses to this crime who may have information about what occurred.”
Schmidt served as outreach director at Victory Chapel.AZFamily | Arizona News
“It is imperative that the public come forward if they have information, so we can bring justice to Hans and his family,” Winn said.
Police are asking anyone with information about the shooting to call 623-930-3000 or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS, or 480-TESTIGO for Spanish speakers.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn