Barrage of gunfire as officers confront Houston megachurch shooter, released body cam footage shows
HOUSTON– Body camera footage released Monday by Houston police showed off-duty officers with guns drawn as they confronted a woman who opened fire at celebrity pastor Joel Osteen’s megachurch earlier this month before she was shot.
The Houston Police Department released images of two of its officers who were at Lakewood Church, as well as video from a Harris County sheriff’s deputy. It showed officers crouching with handguns in the air, amid the sounds of repeated, loud gunshots.
Gunshots rang out throughout the church building as officers approached the source of the shooting. “Put the gun down now,” an officer is heard saying before firing his weapon. Another officer warned: “She might have a bomb.”
Later, an officer radioed, “The shooter has been shot. It looks like she has something on her chest.” Another officer called the bomb squad.
Police say Genenesse Moreno, 36, entered the church between Sunday services on Feb. 11 with her 7-year-old son and began firing an AR-style rifle. Moreno did not reach the main shrine and was killed after exchanging gunfire with two off-duty officers. Two people were injured in the shooting, including Moreno’s son. He was shot in the head and is still in the hospital.
Images of the child, seen wearing orange pants and a yellow shirt, were blurred after he was injured in the shooting. “We have a child who is injured, about three bullets in the head,” an officer reported over his radio.
Paramedics were called to the scene by multiple officers, who called for help after spotting the young boy face-up in the carpeted hallway.
(backslash) Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the images “are potentially disturbing to community members.”
“While we know there are unanswered questions, this is still an active investigation,” Finner said. “We will continue to work with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to thoroughly investigate all aspects of this incident.”
Police have told reporters that investigators are still trying to determine Moreno’s motive and learn more about how she obtained the AR-style rifle she used.