Genesse Moreno Church Shooting Tragedy: Houston Megachurch Prepares for Healing Service

HOUSTON (AP) — A Houston megachurch is preparing for a special service this Sunday, following a tragic incident that took place last week. The incident involved a woman who opened fire in one of the church’s hallways before being shot down by security officers.

Lakewood Church, led by renowned pastor Joel Osteen, has been closed since the shooting on February 11th. The violent episode left worshippers in a state of panic as they sought safety.

The perpetrator, identified as Genesse Moreno, 36, entered the church between Sunday services accompanied by her 7-year-old son, and proceeded to open fire. Fortunately, Moreno did not reach the main sanctuary, and was ultimately killed in an exchange of gunfire with off-duty officers. Two individuals were wounded during the incident, including Moreno’s son, who sustained a gunshot wound to the head and remains hospitalized.

Many questions surrounding the shooting still remain unanswered, including Moreno’s motives and the details of how she acquired the AR-style rifle used in the attack.

Speaking to The Associated Press, Moreno’s former mother-in-law, Walli Carranza, revealed that Moreno had long battled with mental health issues. Carranza highlighted perceived systemic failures and lenient gun laws as contributing factors to the tragic event.

In a recent video message shared on social media, Pastor Osteen announced a special service scheduled for 11 a.m. CST on Sunday, aimed at fostering a period of healing and restoration for the congregation.

Despite the distressing events of the past week, Osteen emphasized the importance of not allowing fear to deter people from coming together in worship.

Authorities have yet to determine the motive behind Moreno’s actions at Lakewood Church.

Church spokesperson Don Iloff disclosed that records indicate Moreno had sporadically attended services at Lakewood for a couple of years, with no record of her presence after 2022.

Carranza indicated that she had attempted to raise concerns about Moreno’s mental health struggles to authorities, with her attorney sending emails to Lakewood Church seeking intervention in 2020 and 2021.

It was noted that Texas does not have a “red flag” law, which typically allows for the removal of firearms from individuals deemed dangerous due to mental health issues or threats of violence.

Investigations revealed that Moreno had used various aliases, but interviews and past police reports confirmed her identification as female, as stated by Houston Police Commander Chris Hassig.

Joel Osteen, 60, delivers sermons to approximately 45,000 attendees each week at Lakewood Church, housed within a former basketball arena. His televised messages reach millions of viewers, making Lakewood the third-largest megachurch in the United States according to the Hartford Institute for Religion Research.