SMITH COUNTY, Texas — The man accused of killing a pastor and injuring a parishioner during an East Texas church shooting in 2021 has been restored to mental competency.
Mytrez Woolen, 24, is accused of murdering Pastor Mark McWilliams and injuring William "Mike" Sellars three years ago at Starrville Methodist Church in Winona.
During the hearing in the 7th District Court on Friday, Judge Kerry Russell said Woolen was able to get into the mental hospital and was treated. Earlier this month, hospital officials notified the court he was successfully returned to mental competency.
Both the state and defense accepted the opinion from the hospital.
This announcement comes over two years since Woolen was found incompetent to stand trial in December 2021. Russell said this was the first case in his career he's seen a person charged with capital murder found incompetent to stand trial at this point in the pre-trial proceedings.
On Friday, the state said it is requesting treatment records from the mental treatment hospital. The prosecution has filed a motion to ask for a court order to receive the records.
Smith County District Attorney Jacob Putman said the state wants the records to view a full scope of Woolen's mental health.
Russell said when a case involves competency, courts are encouraged to move things along quickly once the defendant is returned to competency.
Now that he is competent, the defense said they will have to somewhat start over again in the trial process.
While the court did not set another hearing, Russell said another would be scheduled in the coming weeks.
According to the arrest affidavit, around 9:22 a.m., on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, Smith County deputies were called to the scene of the church, located at 17339 Farm-to-Market Road 16.
Officials say Rosemary McWiliams, the pastor's wife, claimed she and her husband had found someone in their church and her husband had been shot. During the 911 call, dispatchers reported gunshots and screaming could be heard in the background. She stated the suspected shooter, identified later as Woolen, was wearing jeans and a gray sweater, and stole a pickup truck to escape the area.
When deputies arrived on scene, they found Sellars sitting outside the church with what appeared to be gunshot wounds, according to the affidavit. Sellars told officials when he arrived at the church, he heard gunshots coming from inside. He said he then saw Woolen coming toward the front door and Woolen began shooting toward him. Sellars said he tried to run for cover, but was shot before the suspect drove off.
Another witness, who was at the scene during the shooting, said Pastor McWilliams opened a bathroom door and put up his hands. The pastor then told the suspect, who was holding the church's money bag, to leave the church. The witness said the pastor continued to tell the suspect to leave and took out his handgun. According to the affidavit, it was at this time Woolen rushed toward Pastor McWilliams and the two began fighting on the ground. Woolen was able to take the gun from the pastor and shot several times in the chest, the affidavit states. He then reportedly began shooting at the pastor's wife who was hiding by the stove. The witness said Woolen approached him demanding his truck keys and ran out of the church.
Once law enforcement obtained the witness's vehicle information, ONSTAR was able to track the vehicle which was headed east on Interstate 20 toward Marshal, according to the affidavit. The affidavit says the Harrison County Sheriff's Office was able to catch up with Woolen who refused to stop. ONSTAR then disabled the vehicle and a traffic stop was conducted. The affidavit states Woolen was then taken into custody without incident. The church's money bag was also found in the vehicle.
Pastor McWilliams died from his injuries, while Sellars was sustained non-life threatening injuries that required surgery. Rosemary was injured in a fall.
Woolen remains in the Smith County Jail on bonds totaling $3.5 million.