Police ID suspect in shooting at Joel Osteen’s Houston megachurch
OAN’s Elizabeth Volberding
12:15 PM – Monday, February 12, 2024
The shooter who opened fire at Pastor Joel Osteen’s megachurch in Houston, Texas, has been identified by law enforcement as 36-year-old Genesee Ivonne Moreno.
On Sunday at approximately 2:00 p.m., the transgender female gunman walked into the Lakewood Church with “Free Palestine” written on their AR-15. According to reports, Moreno was wearing a trench coat and a backpack and was accompanied by a seven-year-old boy who has been confirmed to have been the shooter’s biological son.
According to detectives in the Montgomery County warrant obtained by the Houston Police Department, Moreno entered Lakewood Church, the third largest megachurch in the U.S., and then shot and injured a man with an AR-15 rifle.
Moreno then aimed the gun at security guards who weren’t on duty. Before more harm could be done, Moreno was soon shot by two law enforcement officers and died due to the wounds sustained.
The male victim, who was identified to be a 57-year-old, and the seven-year-old boy who was with the Moreno, were both struck by gunfire at some point during the shooting. It’s unclear if the victims were struck by shots fired by the responding officers or by bullets from the suspect’s gun.
According to the police, the child, was transported in critical condition to Texas Children’s Hospital.
In addition, the warrant stated that Moreno claimed to have a bomb before being killed. In order to investigate Moreno’s motive and intentions for the shooting, detectives sought a warrant for a Conroe address linked to Moreno.
Later, Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña verified that no explosives had been discovered during the search of the shooters personal items and vehicle.
“Right now, I can safely say that we have not found anything that is of concern to our community or to this location, but we’re going to take our time to ensure that we look at every aspect,” Peña stated in a press conference on Sunday.
“It’s traumatic not only for our community but it’s certainly traumatic for the officers who had to take a life and we worry about their mental health as well, so our prayers are with them,” he added.
According to the press, the shooter identified as transgender and was originally born with the name “Jeffrey Escalante” in El Salvador before eventually changing it to Genesee Ivonne Moreno. Sources have also claimed that Moreno had an extensive criminal background.
Except for the shooter, no other deaths are currently listed as a result of the incident. A local hospital provided treatment to a man who had been shot in the leg. As of Monday morning, the seven-year-old is currently in critical condition.
Additionally, no information has been released regarding the shooter’s possible motivation.
Pastor Joel Osteen, 60, who is an ambassador of the megachurch, made a statement to the press regarding the incident. He mentioned that the tragedy “could have been worse” if the shooting had occurred during the earlier Sunday morning service, in which many more people attended.
“We don’t understand why these things happen, but we know God’s in control,” Osteen said.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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What was written on the AR-15 rifle used in the shooting at Joel Osteen’s megachurch?
Shooting at Joel Osteen’s Megachurch in Houston: Suspect Identified as Genesee Ivonne Moreno
On Sunday, February 11, 2024, a shooting took place at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, which is led by Pastor Joel Osteen. The shooter has been identified as 36-year-old Genesee Ivonne Moreno. Moreno, who is a transgender female, entered the church carrying an AR-15 rifle with the phrase “Free Palestine” written on it. The shooter was accompanied by a seven-year-old boy, confirmed to be their biological son.
According to reports, Moreno shot and injured a man with the AR-15 rifle before aiming the gun at security guards who were off-duty. Law enforcement officers were able to intervene and shot Moreno, who later died from the wounds sustained. During the incident, a 57-year-old male victim and the seven-year-old boy were also struck by gunfire. It is unclear if they were hit by shots fired by the responding officers or by bullets from the suspect’s gun.
The child was transported to Texas Children’s Hospital in critical condition. Additionally, Moreno claimed to have a bomb before being killed. However, no explosives were discovered during the search of the shooter’s personal items and vehicle.
Samuel Peña, the Houston Fire Chief, stated in a press conference that no concerning items were found at the scene. He also expressed concern for the well-being of the officers involved, recognizing the traumatic nature of having to take a life.
It has been reported that Moreno had an extensive criminal background, and sources have claimed that the shooter was originally born as Jeffrey Escalante in El Salvador before changing their name to Genesee Ivonne Moreno.
The incident resulted in one injury and the critical condition of the child. No further information has been released regarding the shooter’s motivation. Pastor Joel Osteen made a statement regarding the tragedy, expressing gratitude that the shooting did not occur during the earlier Sunday morning service, when more people typically attend.
These events have shocked the community and sparked discussions about safety in places of worship. Investigations are underway to determine the shooter’s motives and intentions for the attack.
It’s important to note that accurate and verified information is crucial during such incidents, as false narratives and speculations can easily spread. Law enforcement authorities and the media are working diligently to provide accurate updates and ensure the safety and well-being of the community.
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