HOUSTON, Texas – Authorities have identified the shooter at a Texas megachurch on Sunday as Genesse Ivonne Moreno, 36, who entered Lakewood Church with a history of mental illness and opened fire with an AR-style rifle. The attack took place between services at the former NBA arena-converted church and caused chaos among worshippers. Moreno brought her 7-year-old son to the attack, and he suffered critical injuries from a gunshot wound to the head.
According to police and FBI investigators, Moreno had no prior history with the church and had not been a known member of the congregation. The motive for the shooting remains unclear, but authorities are looking into a dispute involving Moreno and her ex-husband’s family. Investigators found antisemitic writings by the shooter, as well as a “Palestine” sticker on the rifle, indicating a potential bias-related motive for the attack. Moreno had a history of mental illness, including being placed under emergency detention in 2016.
At the time of the shooting, Moreno pointed a gun at an unarmed security guard before opening fire inside the church. The exchange of gunfire with two off-duty officers resulted in Moreno’s death. One officer was identified as off-duty Houston police officer Christopher Moreno, who is not related to the shooter. Both officers fired their weapons, but it is not yet known if Moreno’s son was accidentally shot by one of them. Authorities did not find any explosives in the church after Moreno claimed there was a bomb.
The court records show that Moreno had prior arrests and criminal convictions, including assault, theft, and forgery. In addition, Moreno had been involved in a divorce and child custody battle in 2022, where concerns about mental illness and neglect were raised.
Lakewood Church, led by Pastor Joel Osteen, is attended by 45,000 people weekly, making it the third-largest megachurch in the U.S. Osteen stated that the violence could have been worse if the attack had occurred during the earlier and larger late Sunday morning service.
The shooting caused panic and fear among the worshippers, with one church member describing the harrowing experience of hearing gunshots and seeking safety inside the sanctuary. The incident has shaken the community and raised concerns about security measures in churches and other public spaces. As the investigation continues, the motives behind the shooting and the circumstances leading up to the tragic incident are under intense scrutiny.