The person who entered Joel and Victoria Osteen’s enormous Lakewood Church in south Houston on Sunday was armed with a lengthy rifle that had previously been identified as being in the hands of men, according to reports from several Houston media outlets on Monday morning.
Genesse Ivonne Moreno, 36, who had started firing almost immediately after entering, was killed by two off-duty agent law enforcement officers who were working at Lakewood Church, according to a number of separate sources cited by KHOU writer Jeremy Rogalski. One of them is a 38-year-old Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission representative with four years of experience. The other off-duty agent is a 28-year-old officer from the Houston Police Department with two years of experience.
According to police records, Moreno had previously been arrested for rape, fraud, marijuana possession, theft, evading arrest, and carrying an illegal weapon. He had also previously identified as Jeffrey Escalante.
February 12, 2024, Jeremy Rogalski (@JRogalskiKHOU)
The shooter entered the Houston megachurch while carrying a handbag that she officially announced had explosives inside and wearing an armored trench coat. She was also carrying an infant who was 5 years old. She and her car were searched by law enforcement, but no munitions were discovered.
According to a data research conducted by the Texas Department of Public Safety, Moreno, who was formerly known as Jeffrey Escalante and was reported by KHOU and the Houston Chronicle, had a shady legal history dating back to 2005. Failure to stop and provide information, assault on a public servant, physical harm from the assault, fraud, possession of marijuana, theft, evading arrest, and carrying arms illegally are all examples of previous arrests.
In a press conference on Sunday, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner informed reporters that in addition to Moreno, who was killed by off-duty officers returning her fire, she was also shot by gunfire, along with the 5-year-old child and the 57-pound man. The man was hurt in the calf, and the child was taken to a hospital where he was in critical condition.
According to the Houston Chronicle, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is requesting an investigation into whether the killing was a hate crime against Latinos. Just hours before a Spanish-language service was scheduled to start, the gunman arrived at the temple.
“I don’t want to speculate on her motivations because I’m unsure.” “Best guess?” At the Sunday press event, Troy Finner, the head of the Houston Police Department, made a statement.
Days after the Sunday shooting, Moreno’s residential Houston area house in Conroe, Texas, north of Houston, was visited by the federal bureau of investigation, Montgomery County sheriff’s office, Houston Police Department, and Texas Rangers to gather information, according to The Houston Chronicle.
At this time, the shooting’s motivation is unknown.
