HOUSTON, TEXAS – A calm Sunday afternoon suddenly turned chaotic at the Lakewood Church in Houston, leaving the community and authorities searching for answers.
During the afternoon services at the mega church, a woman arrived with her 7-year-old son, wearing a trench coat and carrying a backpack. Law enforcement officials reported that she was armed with two rifles and what appeared to be a yellow rope resembling a detonation cord.
The situation quickly escalated as the woman brandished an AR-15 rifle, pointing it at an unarmed security guard before firing the assault-style rifle in a hallway. The potentially catastrophic incident was averted thanks to the swift actions of two off-duty officers providing security at the church. Tragically, the woman’s son was also struck by gunfire and remained in critical condition.
The woman responsible for the attack was identified as Genesse Ivonne Moreno, residing in Conroe, Texas, north of Houston. She had a history of prior arrests, including one in 2022 on weapons charges, and a documented mental health history.
Although the motive behind Moreno’s actions remained unclear, investigators uncovered “antisemitic writings” and a sticker with the word “Palestine” on the AR-15 she carried, suggesting possible personal disputes, particularly with her ex-husband’s Jewish family.
Despite the harrowing ordeal, Pastor Joel Osteen reaffirmed his commitment to spreading hope and faith and emphasizing divine control over adversity.
The incident occurred during a transition between English and Spanish-language services at the former N.B.A. arena converted into Lakewood Church, a large congregation with thousands attending services in person, as well as online and on television.
The confrontation lasted only minutes but prevented what could have been a devastating tragedy within one of the nation’s largest megachurches.