Aiexpress – Houston authorities have made public the graphic security and police body camera footage from the shooting incident that took place inside Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church on February 11th.
In the videos, Genesse Ivonne Moreno can be seen entering the place of worship with her 7-year-old son, holding his hand. She is seen carrying an assault-style rifle and a bag, which investigators believe contains another rifle.
Moreno and her son entered the church foyer and tried to enter the sanctuary, but the doors were closed, according to authorities. The footage shows people inside the church scurrying for shelter as Moreno walks through the corridors with her weapon and son.
An off-duty Houston police officer, who was responsible for church security, can be seen engaging in a gunfight with the suspect in the footage.
According to police and video footage, a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission agent who was also working security for the church heard the gunfire and approached Moreno with his service weapon while she was firing her rifle.
During her conversation with the TABC agent, Moreno can be heard saying that she intends to blow up the church and that she has a bomb in her suitcase.
“All I need is help,” she can be heard yelling on the body camera clip.
The TABC agent opened fire on the suspect when she refused to drop her weapon, according to authorities.
Security camera footage captured her kid, Samuel, putting his hands on his ears during the firing exchange.
Moreno was eventually hit by a bullet and declared dead on the spot. Her son was shot in the head and sent to the hospital in severe condition.
A 47-year-old male was shot in the hip, sent to the hospital, and then released, according to police.
No bomb was discovered at the scene.
A motive is still being investigated. Police are looking into Moreno’s background, which includes a well-documented history of mental health concerns and a criminal record, according to a recent ABC News investigation of documents and records.
According to officials, the AR-15 rifle retrieved during the incident had a sticker that read “Palestine”.
“We do believe that there was a familial dispute that has taken place between her ex-husband and her ex-husband’s family,” some of whom are Jewish, police said.
Samuel’s grandmother, Walli Carranza, told ABC News two days after the incident that she thought it was “predictable and preventable.” She also said that her daughter-in-law’s mental health difficulties were well-known, yet she received no assistance.
“Despite the fact that she had schizophrenia, she was allowed to own guns,” Carranza told ABC News.
