Shooter at Joel Osteen’s mega-church with ‘Palestine’ on rifle had mental health issues, antisemitic writings: officials
A woman, identified as Genesse Ivonne Moreno, 36, opened fire at Joel Osteen’s packed Houston-area mega-church on Sunday. Moreno, who had a history of mental health issues and previously expressed antisemitic sentiments, utilized a weapon adorned with a “Palestine” sticker during the brazen attack, officials revealed Monday.
Moreno entered Lakewood Church just before a Spanish-language service was set to commence at 2 p.m., accompanied by a 7-year-old boy. She unleashed gunfire amidst hundreds of congregants seated in the pews.
Two off-duty officers, Houston cop Christopher Moreno (unrelated to the shooter) and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission Agent Adrian Herrera, returned fire and fatally shot Moreno, as announced during a Monday afternoon press briefing.
The young boy, critically injured with a gunshot wound to the head, is currently "fighting for his life," Police Chief Troy Finner reported Monday.
While the child's exact relation to Moreno, originally from El Salvador, remains unclear, it is known that Moreno had a criminal record dating back to 2005, with various charges including assault, forgery, possession of marijuana, and unlawful carrying of a weapon, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Moreno had a documented history of mental health issues, with an incident in 2016 leading to her placement under an emotional detention order, indicating she posed a threat to herself or others.
Addressing discrepancies in Moreno's identity, HPD Officer Christopher Hassig clarified that Moreno, also known as Jeffery Escalante, consistently identified as female. Hassig also mentioned Moreno's history of penning antisemitic writings.
Authorities suspect a familial dispute with Moreno's ex-husband, who has Jewish relatives, may have motivated the attack. However, they emphasized Moreno acted alone.
Moreno utilized an AR-15 rifle in the shooting, legally acquired in December, with a 22-caliber rifle discovered in her bag, unused. One civilian bystander was shot in the leg but has since been discharged from the hospital.
Contrary to earlier reports, officials clarified that while Moreno's weapon bore a sticker reading "Palestine," it did not bear the inscription "Free Palestine."
Before succumbing to her injuries, Moreno claimed there was a bomb present, prompting a search that yielded no explosives.
FBI agents, along with other law enforcement, conducted a search of Moreno's Conroe residence, suspecting the presence of firearms, ammunition, and explosive materials.
Joel Osteen remarked that the outcome could have been far worse had the incident occurred during the church's larger Sunday services, which attract 45,000 attendees weekly, making Lakewood Church the third-largest mega-church in America.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Doug Williams refrained from speculating on the motive, emphasizing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
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