Boulder, CO – A preliminary research report from the ADL Center on Extremism revealed that Genesse Moreno, the woman who opened fire at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church on Feb.11 before being killed by off-duty officers, harbored a range of antisemitic, anti-Zionist, and extremist beliefs. According to the report, Moreno expressed support for designated terrorist groups, such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
Moreno’s mother reportedly attended the church, but the motive for her targeting Lakewood in the attack, which left two people wounded, remains unclear. ADL researchers found that Moreno maintained an antisemitic, pro-Palestinian Telegram channel and chat, where she shared terrorist propaganda and antisemitic conspiracy theories. Moreno often ranted about her former mother-in-law, Walli Carranza, a Colorado-based rabbi, and accused her of attempting to “kidnap” her son.
Moreno’s Telegram posts indicate that she had been planning the attack at least a month prior to the shooting and had initially considered targeting a pro-Israel rally. Authorities also found antisemitic writings among her belongings, and reports have indicated that she suffered from schizophrenia.
In her posts, Moreno expressed admiration for Osama bin Laden and shared content from Resistance News Network, an anti-Zionist English-language Telegram channel that promotes violence against Israel. The channel includes explicit promotion of U.S. State Department-designated foreign terrorist organizations such as Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, as well as the depiction of individuals with guns and rockets being fired at Israel.
In addition to sharing content from this network, Moreno also shared terrorists’ commentary in her own Telegram channel. Among them were messages and images from Hamas, Hezbollah, Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, and other extremist groups. Moreno also repeatedly expressed hatred for Jews and Israel in her posts.
The shocking display of animosity and support for violence underscores the importance of addressing and monitoring extreme ideologies. The tragic event at Lakewood Church serves as a stark reminder of the threat posed by individuals who harbor such radical beliefs.