A violent incident unfolded at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston over the weekend, wherein a woman armed with a long rifle opened fire during the site’s Spanish-language services. According to preliminary reports, the shooter may have been grappling with gender confusion. The woman, who was also carrying a child of unidentified relation at the time, was fatally shot by off-duty police officers in the congregation.
While no other fatalities were reported, a man was injured in the leg and the child, who is in critical condition, was also wounded. It is unclear whether the child’s injuries were caused by the shooter or the police.
Houston Police Department Chief, Troy Finner, refrained from speculating on the motive but emphasised that the responsibility of placing the child in danger lies with the perpetrator.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott expressed solidarity with those affected, including the Lakewood Church community, and offered state resources to expedite justice for the assailant’s actions.
The perpetrator was later identified as 36-year-old Genesse Ivonne Moreno, formerly known as Jeffery Escalante. Moreno had an extensive criminal history, but it is still unclear if Moreno suffered from gender dysphoria or if the male alias was strictly for criminal purposes. NBC affiliate, Click 2 Houston, used gender-neutral pronouns when referring to Moreno, further sparking speculation.
Discussion about this post