Samuel Moreno-Carranza: Lakewood Church shooter's son who was injured during gunfire lost 'part of his frontal lobe', grandmother says

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

HOUSTON, TEXAS: The seven-year-old boy who was shot at Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church suffered damage to part of his frontal lobe after he was caught in the crossfire, as reported by his grandmother, Walli Carranza.

On February 11, Genesse Ivonne Moreno took her son, Samuel Moreno-Carranza, to the church around 2 pm and showed a gun to an unarmed security guard after the Spanish service and forced her way into the premises. 

Subsequently, she started shooting in the hallway, which led an off-duty officer and a Texas alcoholic beverage commission agent to fire back, ending in her death. 

Grandmother of child injured during Lakewood Church shooting says his 'right to life' wasn't protected

Three days after the shooting, the seven-year-old's grandmother, Walli, took to Facebook to share that her grandson had lost a "major part of what makes us who we are... A portion of his frontal lobe."

She explained that half of his right skull had to be removed during two surgeries within less than 24 hours. Samuel also suffered cardiac arrest multiple times, and it's unclear if he has significant brain activity because his scalp tissue is too fragile to attach EEG wires. 

She also criticized lawmakers, saying that Samuel wasn't protected by his right to life because they prioritize gun rights over his life.

She claimed, "Samuel had no protection of his God-given right to life, Because the very same legislators who claim to be ‘pro-life’ [in the public debate about abortion] believe that unbridled gun rights matter and the right to life does not! Insanity!"

In an earlier Facebook post, the grandmother had written, "Although my former daughter-in-law raged against Israel and Jews in a pro Palestinian rant yesterday this has nothing to do with Judaism or Islam."

Instead, he pointed out Genesse's long history of criminal offenses and documented mental illness.  

The grandmother further wrote, "Because CPS of Harris and Montgomery County, despite more than 20 reports of neglect and medical abuse and medical neglect and reckless endangerment by the mother who was caught with guns in her diaper bag and purse and car did nothing!"

In filings related to her son's divorce from Genesse, Walli accused her of threatening people with guns and storing them carelessly. For instance, she once kept an unlocked firearm in her son's diaper bag and threatened her ex-husband while their son slept in the car. 

Despite this, Genesse legally bought the rifle she brought to her shooting spree at the Lakewood Church. 

Walli further criticized lawmakers for allowing anyone to buy an assault weapon despite warning signs. She called on Congress to repeal the Second Amendment, which grants citizens the right to bear firearms. 

Lakewood Church shooter Genesse Ivonne Moreno was shot dead by off-duty officers

As Genesse posed a threat to the churchgoers, off-duty Houston police officer Christopher Moreno and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission Agent Adrian Herrera opened fire, killing the assailant.

During the incident, Samuel was struck in the head, as per Guardian. Another person, a 57-year-old man, was shot in the hip.

While the shooter's motivation behind attacking the church hasn't been confirmed, investigators hinted that it might have been by Israel's retaliation on Gaza following Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack.

Authorities apparently discovered antisemitic writings at Genesse's home, and she even had a "Palestine sticker" on the rifle she brought to Lakewood Church.