A husband and father of two young children is fighting for his life after he was shot in the head while preaching on a street corner near Phoenix, Arizona, Fox 10 reports.
Around 6 p.m. Wednesday, Hans Schmidt was promoting a local church service when he was shot by an unknown assailant at the corner of 51st and Peoria avenues in Glendale, a Phoenix suburb.
The 26-year-old was preaching using a megaphone at the time, something he had done before repeatedly.
Schmidt is now in critical condition at an area hospital. The most recent reports of his status say he’s been intubated and fluid was drained from his brain after he had a seizure, according to the Arizona Republic.
Victory Chapel, where Schmidt works as outreach director, is raising money for his medical expenses. The Pentecostal church, located just blocks from where Schmidt was shot, issued a statement about the attack and said Schmidt’s loved ones are hopeful.
“The family is encouraged by what they are seeing,” the church said on its website.
Schmidt had moved to Arizona recently with his wife and two young children. He previously served as a military combat medic.
Police are investigating the shooting and are asking anyone with information to come forward. It is not clear whether the attack was targeted or random.
Paul Sanchez, who works in the vicinity of the shooting, said passersby would sometimes scream and curse at Schmidt.
“There was a lot of everything, really—hateful comments, people yelling at him, ‘Get off the street,’ all sorts of mean things,” Sanchez told Arizona Family.
No arrests have been made.
To report information, call the Glendale Police Department at 623-930-3000. Anonymous tips can be sent to Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (948-6377) or 480-TESTIGO (837-8446) in Spanish.
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[Feature Photo: Hans Schmidt/Facebook]
