Suspect identified in Lakewood Church Shooting in Houston

HOUSTON (KXAN) – The suspect responsible for the tragic shooting at Lakewood Church in Houston has been identified as Genesse Ivonne Moreno, a 36-year-old woman, according to a search warrant obtained by Nexstar on Monday.

The horrifying incident unfolded on Sunday afternoon when Moreno entered the megachurch led by Pastor Joel Osteen, armed with a long gun, as reported by the Houston Police Department. During the attack, the suspect shot and injured a man before being killed by two off-duty security officers. Tragically, a young boy who accompanied Moreno was also shot and is currently fighting for his life.

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According to the search warrant, Moreno was wielding an AR-15 rifle and had made threats about a bomb. Law enforcement officers observed substances consistent with the manufacture of explosive devices in her possession, although the credibility of the bomb threat is yet to be determined.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) has identified one of the off-duty officers involved in the incident as Agent Adrian Herrera, who was providing security for the church at the time of the shooting.

TABC Chairman Kevin Lilly praised the swift response of Agent Herrera and other law enforcement officers present at the scene, stating, “These officers likely prevented a much greater tragedy through their brave actions.” Herrera, a five-year veteran of TABC, has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an internal investigation into the shooting.

During a news conference on Sunday, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner refrained from disclosing the suspect’s identity but described her as a woman in her early to mid-30s. Finner also mentioned that the shooter was wearing a trenchcoat and carrying a backpack at the time of the attack.

Regarding the young boy who was injured, Finner did not confirm whether the off-duty officers accidentally struck him while returning fire on the suspect. However, he placed the blame on the suspect, stating, “That female, that suspect, put that baby in danger. I’m going to put that blame on her.”

Chief Finner and Houston Mayor John Whitmire are scheduled to hold a press conference in Houston on Monday at 1:30 p.m. to provide further updates on the incident.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.