New Developments in The Shooting at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church

After a tragic shooting at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood megachurch last week, authorities have slowly been revealing more information about the shooter, a potential motive, and the young child caught in the cross-fire.

On Sunday afternoon, a woman with a 7 year-old child opened fire at Osteen’s megachurch. At the Monday press conference, law enforcement identified the shooter as Genesse Ivonne Moreno, 36, and confirmed that the young boy with her was her son.

Moreno’s son, who is only seven years old, was shot in the head during the shooting and is in critical condition. Police did not confirm if they were the ones who shot the 7-year-old. He remains in critical condition as of Monday. However, a 57-year-old man who was shot in the hip was discharged from the hospital.

Moreno was shot and killed by two-off duty law enforcement officers who were working security at the megachurch before she entered the main sanctuary. The shooting took place before around 2 pm as the church was switching over to the Spanish version of their services. The timing likely saved lives since fewer people were at the church.

Authorities say that they have not narrowed down a motive for the shooting. However, according to the Associated Press, investigators are looking into a dispute between Moreno and her former in-laws. Her mother in-law reportedly attempted to alert authorities that Moreno was a public safety risk. Antisemitic writing was also reportedly discovered at Moreno’s home, with police noting that Moreno’s former in-laws are Jewish.

News outlets have noted that the rifle had a “Palestine” sticker on it. However, so far there’s no clear evidence that the sticker is connected to her motive for the shooting.

It’s also unclear if Osteen, an influential televangelist, was a target. Osteen is one of the wealthiest pastors in the United States and has been the source of both admiration and controversy. Osteen was heavily criticized for his initial response to Hurricane Harvey, with critics arguing that the church should have opened its doors to flood victims. The church later provided significant reconstruction funds post-Hurricane to the Houston community, prompting Houston’s mayor to proclaim a “Lakewood Church Day.”

Regardless of the motive, the shooting is sure to shake the tens of thousands of Lakewood congregants.

“We’re devastated,” Osteen told CNN. “We’ve been here 65 years, and to have somebody shooting at your church.”