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Authorities are investigating a shooting that occurred near Lakewood Presbyterian Church on Dec. 14.
At around 7:50 p.m., Dallas Police responded to a shooting call at 7000 Gaston Avenue. When officers arrived, they found a man had been shot in the parking lot of the church, police said.
The man was taken to a local hospital and was last listed in stable condition, according to Dallas PD.
The suspect Clayton Matthews, 40, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault. No other injuries are reported, police said.
Nearby residents who were at the scene shared on Facebook that the incident took place after the children’s Christmas concert outside.
According to local sources, the relationship between the two men was a biological father and stepfather of a child at the church. Allegedly the two went outside to “talk,” when the shooting occurred, according to several commenters in a Lakewood neighborhood Facebook page.
Rev. Brad C. Denton, pastor of Lakewood Presbyterian Church, said the church’s school would be closed on Friday following the shooting, a day early from Christmas break.
A statement was sent to community members of the church to provide additional details.
“By now, the news of a shooting incident that took place at Lakewood Presbyterian Church last night may have reached you. Â Here is what we know at this time.
Approximately ten minutes after the conclusion of our parochial school’s Christmas program, an altercation between two adult individuals took place on the walkway outside our gymnasium. As our guests had not yet dispersed, the shooting that ensued took place largely away from public view.
The dispute between the two individuals was of a private and personal nature. We do not believe that the attacker at any point intended to harm members of our student body.Â
Trained and armed Lakewood Presbyterian Church personnel acted decisively to engage and contain the attacker, while other community members applied first aid to the victim. We are positive that, in God’s all-wise providence, their swift and heroic actions truncated the event and saved the life of the intended victim. Additionally, we are grateful to the Dallas Police and Fire Departments for their rapid response to the event.Â
The victim was later reported to be in stable condition at a local hospital. Youth-specific counseling resources are being collected for distribution to the families of participants in last night’s Christmas production.  Those who have offered their services in this regard have our deepest thanks,” – Rev. Brad C. Denton, pastor of Lakewood Presbyterian Church.
This investigation is ongoing and will be updated when further information is available.
