New Footage Reveals Moment Genesse Moreno Opens Fire in Houston Church
Newly released footage by the Houston Police Department reveals the harrowing moments when a suspect opened fire at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston. The incident, which took place on February 11, resulted in the death of the shooter, 36-year-old Genesse Moreno, and left her 7-year-old son critically injured. A 57-year-old man was also wounded in the shooting.
The video footage, totaling 26 minutes, captures the chaos that ensued as gunfire erupted during an ordinary Sunday afternoon at the church. Surveillance cameras inside the church and body cameras worn by officers show churchgoers scrambling and panicking as authorities approached the shooter with weapons drawn. The footage also captures Moreno pulling her son out of a white SUV and walking towards the church wearing a long tan trench coat and a backpack.
As the first shot rang out, church attendees and off-duty officers were caught off guard, with one officer asking, “What is that?” Panic quickly ensued as people screamed and fled down the hall. One officer whispered a prayer, saying, “Father God, just be with us. Forgive us our sins.” Meanwhile, surveillance footage showed people fleeing in confusion and seeking refuge in doorways as Moreno continued to open fire. Her son was seen covering his ears and hiding in a doorway.
In the audio from body camera footage, Moreno can be heard shouting that she had a bomb and threatening to “blow up…the whole place.” At one point, she pleaded for help and asked everyone to stay calm. An exchange of gunfire between the shooter and two officers took place, causing Moreno to pace back and forth in an empty hallway before she was eventually struck by gunfire and fell to the ground.
Following the incident, officers called for medical assistance for Moreno’s son, Samuel, who was found lying on the ground. They also requested a bomb squad to check Moreno for explosives, although none were found in her car or backpack.
Samuel was rushed to the hospital in critical condition with a single gunshot wound to the head. Police Chief Troy Finner stated that there was no update on his condition at the time. The child’s grandmother, Walli Carranza, has been providing updates on Samuel’s recovery on Facebook. She mentioned that he was breathing well after being taken off the ventilator but might require additional brain surgery. The long-term impact on his life remains uncertain.
The two off-duty officers involved in the exchange of gunfire with Moreno, an HPD officer and a Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission officer, were uninjured.
Police are still investigating Moreno’s motives for the attack. They believe she had a “mental health history” and have discovered some “antisemitic writings” linked to her. Hassig, a Houston Police Department commander, mentioned that Moreno may have had a dispute with her ex-husband and some of his family members, who are Jewish. Carranza described Moreno as “severely mentally ill” and revealed that she kept an assault weapon in her house. She emphasized the need for a collaborative mental health and law enforcement response.
Court records show that Moreno had been arrested multiple times since 2005 on various charges, including unlawfully carrying a weapon, forgery, marijuana possession, and evading arrest. She pleaded guilty to unlawfully carrying a weapon in October 2022 and had an assault charge in 2009.
Joel Osteen, the renowned preacher who presides over Lakewood Church, expressed his shock and offered prayers for the victims and their families during a news conference. He questioned why such an incident would happen in their church, emphasizing that they had been a pillar of the community for 65 years.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing as authorities aim to uncover the full extent of Moreno’s motives and any potential connections to her past. The incident serves as a reminder of the need for comprehensive mental health support and collaboration between mental health professionals and law enforcement agencies.
In the aftermath of this tragic event, the community and the nation are left searching for answers, grappling with the devastating effects of gun violence, and hoping for a safer future for places of worship.
