More details emerge following shooting at Osteen’s Lakewood Church. Shooter had history of mental illness.
Posted by
Qale (aka Qale)
Feb 12 '24, 19:14
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Christopher Hassig, commander of the HPD homicide unit, described the shooter, 36-year-old Genesse Ivonne Moreno, as a "lone wolf" with a history of mental health issues who arrived at the church in a trench coat with multiple weapons prior to the commencement of a Spanish-language service.
Hassig told assembled media that prior to the shooting, Moreno, pulled her 7-year-old son out of her white vehicle parked on Timmons Lane and proceeded to confront a security guard outside the building at approximately 1:53 p.m. The guard let Genesse into the building, at which point she "immediately" began exchanging fire with HPD officer Christopher Moreno and TABC officer Adrian Herrera, according to Hassig. Genesse wielded an AR-15, the commander said, but a second weapon— a .22 caliber rifle—was found in a backpack on her person.
Officers continued to engage Genesse until she fell to the ground, Hassig said. Her child also fell to the ground after being shot in the head. Genesse was pronounced dead at 2:07 p.m.
Authorities stated that the buttstock of the AR-15 she wielded featured a sticker of the word "Palestine." Previous reports incorrectly stated the long gun featured the words "Free Palestine." Hassig stated "antisemitic writings" have been discovered in subsequent investigations into Genesse. The commander said the shooter used male and female aliases in the past, but has identified as female "this entire time."
Hassig also stated the shooter had a history of mental health illness and was previously put under emergency detention orders by Houston police. Genesse appears to have legally purchased at least one of the guns used in the attack as recently as December. The commander stated the shooter may have been embroiled in a familial dispute with the family of an ex-husband.
"We do believe there was a familial dispute between her and her ex-husband's family, and some of those people are Jewish," Hassig said.
The commander described investigations as "very fluid," and Houston Police Chief Troy Finner updated the public on the status of the wounded child, confirming him to be Genesse's son. "He is still fighting for his life," Finner said.
Houston Police Chief Samuel Peña addressed the materials sprayed inside the church by Genesse after being shot by officers. None of the materials were found to be hazardous in investigations by the department's hazmat and decontamination task forces. Houston Mayor John Whitmire addressed the "tragic scene" while touting officers' response to the attack.
"We want you to pray for our first responders," Whitmire said. "The two officers who neutralized the suspect...they are suffering today."
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