HOUSTON — The woman who walked into Lakewood Church on Sunday and opened fire with a long rifle had a history of mental illness, Houston police said Monday.
Genesse Ivonne Moreno, 36, was wearing a trench coat and a backpack when she confronted an unarmed security guard with an AR-15 rifle and forced her way inside. Moreno entered the Houston megachurch with her 7-year-old son at 1:55 p.m., moments before a Spanish service was scheduled to begin.
She immediately opened fire in the westside hallway before she was shot and killed by two off-duty officers working security at Lakewood, according to Houston Police Department Chief Troy Finner.
“They held their ground in the face of rifle fire at point blank range," the TABC chairman Kevin Lilly said at a news conference Monday. “They were a wall that existed between worshippers and terror, between freedom of religion and murder.”
During the gunbattle, Moreno's son was shot in the head. We checked on him Monday afternoon and he was still in critical condition and fighting for his life.
A 57-year-old man who was an innocent bystander was also shot in the leg. He's now out of the hospital, according to Finner.
The chief said earlier that he couldn't confirm if the child and the man were shot by the off-duty officers or by Moreno.
"I don't want to speculate on that, but what I would say is if it was, unfortunately, and that female, that suspect put that baby in danger, I'm going to put that blame on her," Finner said Sunday.
In new video obtained by KHOU 11 News, you hear the gunshots and see the chaos inside the church in the Greenway Plaza area, about six miles from downtown Houston.
New details about Lakewood Church shooter Genesse Moreno
- Armed with AR-15 with Palestine sticker on it
- Long arrest history dating back to 2005
- Mental health history, according to HPD
- Child who was shot at Lakewood was her son
- Once attended Lakewood
Moreno had a long criminal history dating back to 2005 that included arrests for assault of a public servant, assault causing bodily injury, forgery, possession of marijuana, theft, evading arrest and unlawful carrying weapon.
HPD Commander Christopher Hassig said she was put under emergency detention by HPD in 2016.
"We do believe that she does have a mental health history that is documented through us and through interviews with family members,” Hassig said.
Despite Moreno's mental health issues and criminal background, police said she was able to legally buy the AR-15 in December.
Hassig said they're still working to learn Moreno's motive and why she chose Lakewood. KHOU 11 News investigative team learned Moreno once attended Lakewood and so did her mother.
Her AR-15 rifle had a Palestine sticker on it, according to Hassig.
“We have uncovered some items, we do have some anti-Semitic writings that we have uncovered during this process.” Hassig said. “We do believe there was a dispute with her ex-husband and his family and some of them are Jewish."
He called the shooter a "lone wolf" and said they believe she acted alone.
HPD confirmed what KHOU 11 News previously reported, that Moreno used the alias Jeffrey Escalante in the past. According to Hassig, she used multiple aliases but they haven't found any evidence that she'd ever identified as anything but female.
Hours after the shooting on Sunday, FBI agents went to Moreno's home in Conroe, north of Houston. According to a search warrant obtained by KHOU 11 News, authorities had reason to believe guns, ammunition and explosive materials were inside because Moreno made bomb threats at Lakewood.
Police say Moreno lived in the home on Gulf Stream Drive but it's unclear if anyone else lived with her. Law enforcement searched the house Sunday night and towed a car from there.
A neighbor told us he wasn't able to get home and they had no idea what was going on.
"I think it was about two hours before I could finally come home, which was really scary because my wife was here with our kiddo," he said. "But no one was telling me what was going on and why all these police officers were here."
The FBI in Houston released the following statement Monday morning:
"FBI Houston continues to assist the Houston Police Department with the Lakewood Church shooting investigation. I can confirm that overnight the FBI and local police partners conducted a court-authorized law enforcement operation at a location on Gulf Stream Drive in Conroe, TX. That operation was related to the Lakewood Church shooting, but Houston PD remains the lead investigative agency for this incident. Further media inquiries should be directed to them at their 1:30 p.m. press conference this afternoon."
TABC agent, Houston police officer take down Lakewood shooter
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission confirmed one of their off-duty agents, who was working as security for the church, responded to the incident.
They identified TABC Agent Adrian Herrera as the agent who helped take down the shooter. Herrara, 38, has been with TABC for approximately five years.
The HPD officer who shot Moreno was identified as C. Moreno. He's been on the force for just over a year.
Both men are being called heroes by city leaders for risking their lives to save others.
“Indeed, when the sanctity of a church is violated, or any house of worship, that is an attack on the very foundation of this nation,” Lilly said. “I think what happened yesterday was the personification of heroism and valorism.”
“TABC agents are trained to respond to situations such as this as part of their duties,” TABC Executive Director Thomas Graham said. “As Texas peace officers, each of our agents are committed to protecting lives and keeping the people of Texas safe.”
Lakewood Pastor Joel Osteen reacts to shooting
This entire incident happened in between the English and Spanish services at Lakewood Church. The Spanish service was scheduled to start at 2 p.m.
Pastor Joel Osteen stood beside Mayor John Whitmire, Finner and Peña as they updated the public about what happened at his church, and when it was his time to speak, he said he was devastated.
"You know, we don't understand why these things happen, but we know God's in control," Osteen said at the news conference. "We're gonna stay strong, we're gonna continue to move forward. There are forces of evil but the forces that are for us, the forces of God are stronger than that."
The Southwest Freeway service road near Lakewood Church was shut down for several hours while law enforcement investigated and made sure people who were inside the church were safe.
A reunification center was set up at a nearby Life Time Fitness for people who couldn't find their loved ones.
The off-duty officers will be placed on administrative leave while an investigation into the shooting takes place, which is standard practice.
Anyone with information about the shooting or Moreno is asked to call HPD homicide at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477),
Witnesses react to shooting
A woman said she and others were escorted out of the church by several law enforcement agencies -- including the FBI.
She said she was leaving the service and pastor Joel Osteen was greeting people on the second floor when she heard the shots. That's when she said people started running.
As she was trying to get out, she said she saw a person pointing a gun while standing near the entrance to the church and that's when she knew she needed to get away.
"I turned around and started running with the rest of the people," she said. "We hid about 10 adults in a closet and there was one child in there."
A woman from Florida said it was her first time at the church. She said lost her phone during the melee but was able to stay calm until she got it back.
A young boy who was with his dance group describes running to a nearby bathroom during the shooting.
Listen to more reactions from witnesses here.
Texas leaders release statements on Lakewood Church shooting
After hearing the news of the shooting at Lakewood Church, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott released the following statement:
“Our hearts are with those impacted by today’s tragic shooting and the entire Lakewood Church community in Houston. Places of worship are sacred. I have been in contact with Mayor Whitmire and offered the full support and resources of the State of Texas, including Department of Public Safety officers and Texas Rangers, to help this community and help bring swift justice to the criminal who committed this heinous act. Join Cecilia and me in praying for this community during this difficult time and for the brave men and women in blue who acted quickly to respond to this tragedy.”
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo released a statement saying, "My heart goes out to the congregation and all affected, and I am angered at the fact that the alleged shooter seems to have brought a young child with her who now has terrible injuries.
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg posted the following message to X: