There are new details about the shooter responsible for entering Televangelist Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church and opening fire on Sunday, Feb. 11. The shooter, 36-year-old Genesse Moreno, was shot and killed by law enforcement on scene. Two people were injured — including her 7-year-old son.
Moreno’s motives remain unclear, however, she had a documented history of metal illness. Police also noted that she used multiple male and female aliases.
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“She was put under an emergency detention order by Houston police officers,” Commander Christopher Hassig of the Houston Homicide Department said on Feb. 12. “We believe in 2016, we do believe that she does have a mental health history that is documented through us and through interviews with family members.”
Following the shooting, investigators found that the AR-15 style weapon used was legally purchased in December 2023. Investigators also found a .22 caliber rifle.
Police noted Moreno’s recent domestic incidents and some antisemitic writings as potential motives.
According to Hassig, there was a sticker that said “Palestine” on the butt stock of the rifle she used.
“I mentioned antisemitic writing,” Hassig said. “We do believe that there was a familial dispute that has taken place between her ex-husband and her ex-husband’s family. And some of those individuals are Jewish. So we believe that that might possibly be where all of this stems from.”
On Feb. 12, Moreno’s former mother-in-law Walli Carranza spoke with local news and said there were multiple warning signs.
“We asked for help from CPS or Child Protective Services, family services,” Walli Carranza said. “We asked for help from the police and received it many times but she was still allowed to own guns.
In 2022, court documents show that Carranza unsuccessfully petitioned to be the conservator for Moreno’s son. Carranza laid the blame at the feet of state and local officials.
“The fault lies in Child Protective Services of Montgomery County and Harris County that refused to remove custody from a woman with known mental illness that was not being treated and with the state of Texas for not having strong red flag laws that would have prevented her from owning or possessing a gun,” Carranza said.
When asked if the shooter had ties to the church, the police chief said the matter was being investigated. A social media post from Moreno revealed a screenshot of a thank you letter from Lakewood Church for a donation in 2020.
“And it’s just you said that, chief, it could have been a lot worse,” Pastor Joel Osteen said. “Of course, we’re devastated. I mean, this is — we’ve been here 65 years and have somebody shooting in your church. But, you know, we don’t understand why all these things happened, but we know God’s in control.”
Moreno has been arrested at least six times since 2005. Her most recent arrest was for unlawfully carrying a weapon in 2022. That investigation was open at the time of the shooting.
