Garland Shooting: Two Gunmen Dead at Muhammad Cartoon Contest in Texas; Organization Defends Hosting Event

Muhammad Shooting in Texas
Muhammad Shooting in Texas

Two men opened fire and injured a security guard at an event in Texas, disrupting a cartoon contest that depicts the Prophet Muhammad, a key figure in Islam. Police have killed both gunmen.

According to Matt Pearce of the Los Angeles Times, police in Garland, Texas, shot two men at the Muhammad Art Exhibit and Cartoon Contest, which was held by prominent conservatives who have previously criticized Islam harshly. The attack only lasted a few seconds.

"He was shot in the leg, transported to the hospital and he'll be fine," Garland Mayor Douglas Athas said.

Athas added that police immediately shot one of the gunmen. The second shooter was killed after he tried to reach for a backpack; police believed the shooters brought explosives with them.

"Officials then evacuated the area as attendees were led away from the front of the building," Pearce wrote. "Police searched for possible explosives in the area late into the night."

According to Saeed Ahmed, Ed Lavandera and Joe Sutton of CNN, the keynote speaker at the event was Geert Wilders, a right-wing Dutch politician who has been targeted by al-Qaida for his extreme anti-Islam views. The event was organized by controversial political figure Pam Geller, president of the American Freedom Defense Initiative; the Southern Poverty Law Center has classified that organization an "anti-Muslim group."

"The Islamic jihadis are determined to suppress our freedom of speech violently," Geller said, claiming that the shooters were Muslim in origin. "They struck in Paris and Copenhagen recently, and now in Texas."

CNN reported that details haven't come out yet on the shooters, including their religious beliefs or motives. However, the mayor thought no one else was involved in the attack.

"We have no other indication that anyone else was involved," Athas said.

Randy Potts, who covered the event for the Daily Beast, told the Los Angeles Times that around 200 people attended the controversial event. In addition, the contest had tight security before the shooting.

"The security, as you can imagine, is pretty extensive," Potts said. "Even before we came ... maybe 50 to 100 feet away from the building, all around, was all blocked off."

According to CNN, Geller's organization picked the venue, which was owned by the city's school district, because it has previously hosted an event that denounced Islamophobia in January. The event invited cartoonists to draw caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad; the winner would have received $10,000.

"Most of the people who were there were from out of state," Athas said.

CNN reported that many Muslims consider any depiction of the Prophet Mohammed as blasphemous to Islam because it was considered a form of "idol worship." However, Geller remained unapologetic for hosting the event.

"This incident shows how much needed our event really was," Geller said. "The freedom of speech is under violent assault here in our nation. The question now before us -- will we stand and defend it, or bow to violence, thuggery, and savagery?"

Geller added that she would not "abridge my freedoms so as not to offend savages." Wilders expressed similar sentiments during the event.

"The day we give away humor and freedom of speech is the day that we cease to exist as a free and independent people," Wilders said.

    Most Popular
  • Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Faith-based films often receive mixed reactions, and The Last Supper is no exception. The movie attempts to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most iconic moments in Christian history, but does it succeed? Some reviews from critics and audiences provide insight into its strengths and shortcomings.

  • ‘The Chosen’ Season 5: The darkest season yet—What to know before watching

    The wait is over—The Chosen is back with its fifth season, and this time, things are getting intense. The new episodes dive straight into the final days of Jesus’ life, covering some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in the Bible. If you’ve been following the series, you already know that The Chosen isn’t just about retelling familiar stories—it’s about bringing them to life in a way that feels real.

  • Massacres in Syria: Over 1,000 dead, including Christians and Alawites

    Syria’s coastal regions have been devastated by a series of massacres, with reports indicating that over 1,000 people—many from Christian and Alawite communities—have been killed in brutal attacks. Entire families have been wiped out, and survivors are fleeing in search of safety as sectarian violence escalates.

  • Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung: The tragic irony of Korean society and the principles of happiness

    Not long ago, the media was in an uproar over actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing. Just months before, the same people who had relentlessly criticized her for her DUI incident were now expressing sympathy, saying, "The world was too harsh on her." The irony is impossible to ignore.

  • Newsboys move forward as a quartet after Michael Tait’s departure

    After more than a decade as the lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait has officially parted ways with the band, marking a significant shift in the Christian rock group’s lineup. The remaining members—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—have assured fans that they will continue forward, embracing a new season of music and ministry.