By Trend News Line 2024-02-13 05:50:31.
36-Year-Old Mother Opens Fire in Houston Megachurch, Leaving Two Injured Before Being killed
A shocking incident unfolded on Sunday at the Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, when a 36-year-old mother opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle, injuring two people, including her own 7-year-old son, before being fatally shot by law enforcement.
The shooter, identified as Genesse Ivonne Moreno, approached a security guard outside the church and may have revealed her weapon before forcing her way inside. Dressed in a trench coat and carrying a backpack, Moreno entered the converted sports arena between church services and began firing in a hallway with an AR-platform rifle. Authorities estimate that she fired around 30 bullets during the attack.
Fortunately, two off-duty officers were present at the church and quickly engaged the shooter. They successfully stopped her, but not before Moreno’s son was shot in the head. The young boy is currently in critical condition at a hospital, while another victim, a 57-year-old man who was shot in the leg, has been released from medical care.
Investigators are still trying to determine the motive behind this tragic incident. Moreno had a lengthy criminal history and was going through a bitter divorce, which raises questions about whether the shooting was politically motivated or carried out by a mentally disturbed individual.
Authorities executed a search warrant at Moreno’s home in Conroe, located about 50 miles north of the church, where they discovered items consistent with the manufacture of explosive devices. They also found an AR-15 rifle with a “Palestine” sticker on it, which Moreno had legally purchased in December.
Moreno’s social media accounts reveal a complex individual struggling with mental health challenges while attempting to turn her life around and establish a real estate and financial services firm. Her accounts also document a custody battle with her ex-spouse’s family, with whom she had a strained relationship.
This tragic shooting highlights the ongoing issue of gun violence in America, which continues to disrupt the safety and peace of various public spaces. As investigators delve deeper into the motive behind this incident, they are faced with the difficult task of determining whether it was driven by hate or a mental health crisis.
Meanwhile, Joel Osteen, the well-known televangelist and pastor who leads the Lakewood Church, expressed his devastation over the shooting. With a following of 45,000 attendees at his weekly services, Osteen’s church has become a place of solace and spiritual guidance for many.
As the investigation continues, the community remains in shock and mourning, grappling with the senseless violence that has once again shattered the peace of a place of worship..
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