Lakewood Church shooting: Video captures congregation ducking for cover when shooter started firing

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

HOUSTON, TEXAS: The shooter accused of firing shots at Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church has been identified as Genesse Ivonne Moreno, a 36-year-old Hispanic woman.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Police Chief Troy Finner provided an update on the investigation approximately 24 hours after the shooting. 

During the update, they expressed concerns about safety at religious institutions in light of the incident. Chief Finner stated that patrols will be increased at places of worship across the city of Houston as per ABC13.

It is noteworthy that the shooter, Moreno, was killed during an exchange of gunfire with officers, with her son present at the scene and also sustaining gunshot wounds. Reportedly, at least 12 shots were fired.

After the shooting incident, social media users began sharing videos capturing the chilling moment when the shooter opened fire, causing the congregation to duck for cover.

Chaos erupted in aftermath of shooting incident at Lakewood Church

The Lakewood church in Houston ranks among the largest congregations in the United States, with an average attendance of around 45,000 per week.

Panic ensued as individuals inside the church scrambled for safety, with some managing to exit the building but finding themselves unable to leave due to the lockdown of several surrounding blocks by law enforcement. 

Meanwhile, those remaining inside the church sought refuge, enduring hours of uncertainty as they awaited clearance from the police, as per video shared on X, formerly Twitter.

Amid the chaos, parents were separated from their children who were in the church daycare.

Reporter Charly Edsitty, who happened to be in the vicinity running errands at the time of the shooting, recounted speaking with a father and son who were leaving Lakewood as the shots rang out.

The father described the scene, saying, "I saw this lady running. She almost fell down the stairs. I told her, 'Hey, you dropped something.'

She said something in Spanish that I couldn't understand. And then I saw someone else running down the steps. That's when I heard two gunshots."

He continued, "I was going towards my family, and I heard another gunshot coming closer. So I was like, 'I can't go up there now'."

The shooting, which resulted in few injuries, ended within minutes. However, families inside the church, who were unharmed, remained separated until they were permitted to leave the premises.

Who is Genesse Ivonne Moreno?

As detectives delve into Moreno's mental health and how it played a role in the incident, her extensive criminal record dating back to 2005 has come to light. 

In a series of incidents spanning from October 2005 to December 2010, Moreno faced a string of legal troubles in Harris County. On October 24, 2005, she was sentenced to 20 days in Harris County Jail for failure to stop and give Information.

Subsequently, on August 6, 2009, Moreno received a 180-day sentence for assault causing bodily injury, stemming from an altercation where she kicked a detention officer. 

On May 28, 2010, Moreno was sentenced to two days in Harris County Jail for forgery, following an attempt to use a counterfeit $100 bill. Continuing in this pattern, on November 3, 2010, she received a 30-day sentence for theft of hats and makeup. 

Finally, on December 5, 2010, Moreno faced a 75-day sentence for evading, culminating in a tumultuous period of legal entanglements within Harris County.

Most recently, on June 15, 2022, in Fort Bend County, she was involved in an active case for unlawful carrying of a weapon.

Additionally, authorities noted discrepancies in Moreno's identity, including her use of multiple aliases, such as Jeffrey Escalante-Moreno. However, based on her pronouns of she/her, authorities are referring to her by her female name. 

Officials disclosed the recovery of two weapons, an AR-15 and a .22 caliber rifle, in a bag.

Houston police clarified during Monday's press conference that a sticker on one of the weapons only read 'Palestine'.

Furthermore, the Houston Police Department confirmed that the AR-15 used in the shooting was legally purchased in December.