What You Should Know About The shooting At The Megachurch Of Joel Osteen
The reason behind the gunman's attack in Joel Osteen's megachurch, a celebrity pastor, is still unknown as authorities search the suburban Houston residence of the suspect and determine that the weapon used was an AR-style rifle.
The Conroe, Texas, home is located more than fifty miles (80 kilometers) north of Lakewood Church, the scene of Sunday's shooting, which left worshipers frantically seeking cover.
Police have identified the shooter as 36-year-old Genesse Ivonne Moreno. One of the biggest megachurches in the country, according to the police, had two off-duty officers working security when they shot and killed Moreno.
The young son of the shooter, who had entered the church with Moreno, was one of the two additional victims who were shot and injured.
Here's what you should know about the incident:
How Did The Shooting Transpired
Just before 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, as many were preparing to watch the Super Bowl later, the sound of gunfire inside the enormous church—once the home of the NBA's Houston Rockets—startled worshippers.
According to Troy Finner, the chief of police in Houston, Moreno arrived at the church carrying a long rifle and dressed in a trenchcoat and backpack. When Moreno started shooting, two off-duty police officers—a Houston police officer and a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission agent—came up to him and started shooting back.
“They remained steadfast in the face of rifle fire at close range,” stated Kevin Lilly, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission chairman.
Identified: Who Are The Victims?
Authorities said that Moreno's son, who is seven years old, was shot in the head on Monday and is still in critical condition. On Sunday, the boy's age was initially listed as five.
The boy was hit by gunfire, but it was still unclear how he was hit. He was taken to a children's hospital in Houston. While expressing his reluctance to speculate, Finner said, “That suspect put that baby in danger.”
The other victim, a man in his 50s with hip injuries, was identified by the authorities as well.
What Is Known About The Shooter?
Although they did not provide any further information, the authorities said that Moreno had a history of mental illness, including being placed in emergency custody in 2016.
Moreno occasionally used both male and female aliases, according to Houston Police Commander Chris Hassig. However, he said that investigators discovered through interviews and previous police reports that Moreno identified as female. Authorities stated that a dispute between Moreno and her ex-husband's family was the subject of an investigation by investigators.
According to the police, Moreno lawfully bought the AR-15-style rifle used in the shooting in December. Additionally, Moreno had a rifle in.22 caliber with him.
Hassig observed that Moreno's rifle had a “Palestine” sticker on the buttstock, and investigators also discovered antisemitic writings by the gunman. He referred to Moreno as a “lone wolf” because he was operating independently of any kind of larger group.
How Did The Inside Worshippers React?
Alan Guity has attended the church since 1998. His family is from Honduras. He claimed that while his mother was working as an usher, he heard gunshots while he was sleeping inside the church's sanctuary.
"Boom, boom, boom, boom. And I yelled, 'Mom," he said.
Guity, 35, said that as the gunfire persisted, he ran to his mother and they both lay flat on the ground. Guity claimed that after praying, he and his mother remained on the floor for roughly five minutes, until someone announced that it was safe for them to exit the building. Guity saw people sobbing and searching for loved ones as he was led outside.
Who Is Joel Osteen?
Following his father John Osteen's 1999 death as the founding pastor of Lakewood Church, Osteen, now sixty years old, assumed leadership of the organization. The Hartford Institute for Religion Research lists the church as the third-largest megachurch in the United States, having grown significantly under Joel Osteen and drawing an average of 45,000 attendees each week.
Osteen is a proponent of the prosperity gospel, which holds that God desires for his people to enjoy good health and wealth. Among his best-selling works is “Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential.”
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