Arizona religious leader and veteran Hans Schmidt fights for his life after he was brutally shot in the head while preaching gospel on a street corner

An Arizona religious leader and veteran is fighting for his life after an unknown gunman shot him in the face as he preached the gospel on a street corner.

Hans Schmidt, 26, is the outreach director at Victory Chapel in Glendale and was shot around 6 p.m. and police say they are still looking for the suspect.

Schmidt’s wife, Zulya, wrote a moving post on Instagram after the incident, pleading with anyone with information to come forward as she prayed for his speedy recovery.

“My husband was shot in the head yesterday while preaching on the street at the corner of 51st Ave and Peoria. If anyone has any information please contact 911,” she wrote alongside a photo of the couple smiling.

‘Thank you for your prayers. Believing that God has the final say. I love you so much baby.”

Schmidt’s wife, Zulya (left), wrote a moving post on Instagram after the incident, pleading with anyone with information to come forward

In another post, Zulya wrote: “I love you my handsome cowboy. Keep fighting papi. We need you!!’

Schmidt’s father, Eric, reported the incident that occurred on the evening of November 15.

‘This is my son Hans. “On the night of Wednesday, November 15, 2023, he was shot in the head while attending a church service on the street at the intersection of 51st Ave and Peoria in Glendale, Arizona,” Eric wrote.

‘Single entry point on the side of the left temple. The bullet traveled through his brain and is still lodged in the right side of his head. No one heard the shot or saw where it came from.”

Eric said police and detectives reviewed video footage from the intersection where the 26-year-old fell before returning, walking and talking while bleeding profusely.

Schmidt is pictured with his wife and two children and is currently in hospital. His father Eric previously said police and investigators reviewed video from the intersection, which showed the 26-year-old fell before returning, walking and talking while bleeding profusely.

Schmidt is depicted on a corner where he usually preaches the gospel. It is unclear whether the 26-year-old was shot here

‘Nobody initially realized what was happening. He started having seizures and vomiting and they took him to the hospital,” Eric added.

‘At the time of this report he is sedated and stable on life support. They drain fluid from his head to relieve pressure on his brain.

‘So far they say it is inoperable. It’s an incredibly sad situation. We hope for a miracle.

“If you have any information about the shooting, please contact the police.”

Police are still searching for the attacker and it remains unclear whether Schmidt was shot by someone in a vehicle or by someone passing by on foot.

Gina Winn of the Glendale Police Department said at a news conference that “this is a horrible, horrible crime.”

His wife posted a photo of him on Veterans Day and prayed for his speedy recovery

Hans Schmidt, 26, is the outreach director at Victory Chapel in Glendale and was shot around 6 p.m. and police say they are still looking for the suspect

“We have a 26-year-old who was a military doctor. He recently married, has two small children and is currently in critical condition.”

Schmidt was taken to hospital shortly after the incident. In a post on their website at the time, Victory Chapel said he was “desperately in need of a miracle.”

Two days later, their prospects seemed to have improved when they said, “Family is encouraged by what they see. Please continue to lift Hans up in prayer.”

Victory Chapel started a fund for medical expenses in Schmidt’s name and officials will interview additional witnesses in their effort to identify a suspect.