By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
GLENDALE, USA (Worthy News) - An American evangelist was fighting for his life Friday after being shot in the head while preaching on a street corner in Glendale city in the U.S. State of Arizona, his wife said.
Hans Schmidt, 26, was preaching through a megaphone at the corner of a major intersection on Wednesday, telling people about a church service being held that evening, friends and witnesses said.
However, at around 6:00 p.m., a person reputedly shot the street preacher before fleeing the scene.
Schmidt, a military veteran and father of two young children — including a two-month-old baby — was then rushed to hospital where he is now fighting for his life, several sources said.
“My husband was shot in the head yesterday while street preaching on the corner of 51st Ave and Peoria. If anyone has any info, please contact 911,” Schmidt’s wife Zulya said in remarks on social media. “Thank you for your prayers. Believing God has the final say. I love you so much, babe.”
The Victory Chapel congregation, where Schmidt serves as the outreach director, said that after he arrived at the [emergency room] ER, he “began seizing and was intubated.”
CRITICAL CONDITION
“There has been some movement; however, physicians are uncertain how much is voluntary and began draining fluid from his brain. He remains in critical condition; please continue praying,” the church said.
Schmidt’s wife wrote on the social media platform Instagram Friday morning: “I love you my handsome cowboy. Keep fighting, papi. We need you!!”
Paul Sanchez, who works at a business close to where the shooting took place, told reporters that he saw some people drive by, screaming and cursing at Schmidt as he preached.
“There was a lot of everything, really, hateful comments, people yelling at him, ‘get off the street,’ all sorts of mean things,” he told 3TV and CBS 5 News broadcasters.
Sanchez added he was shocked when the situation escalated as “Schmidt never responded to anyone who yelled” at him.
Henry Branch, who lives near the intersection where Schmidt was shot, said he was stunned to learn of what happened.
PREACHING GOSPEL
“Who knows why someone would want to take it out on a preacher like that because he’s speaking the Gospel and Good News to everybody. He’s out to help the community.”
Larry Dettman was at services at the church on Wednesday night when the pastor announced what happened.
Minutes later, the pastor left for the hospital to check on Schmidt, Dettman recalled.
“Out of nowhere, how does this happen? There’s some real evil in this world, a bunch of human junk in their life, and they take it out on somebody else,” Dettman said.
The Glendale Police Department said it has asked witnesses to come forward with more information on the shooting.
It was still unclear Friday whether the street preacher was shot by someone driving by or someone on foot. So far, no arrests have been made, Worthy News learned.