HOUSTON, Texas – A deadly shooting took place at a Houston megachurch, involving a shooter who legally purchased an AR-style rifle despite a significant criminal history and a record of mental illness. The shooter, identified as Genesse Moreno, was eventually gunned down by security officers after opening fire at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, with authorities giving no details about how Moreno obtained the rifle in December. This incident adds to a string of shootings in Texas and beyond, where individuals legally obtained firearms despite their history of criminal activity and mental health issues.
Police Chief Troy Finner revealed that Moreno, 36, entered the church with her 7-year-old son, firing shots in a hallway but not reaching the main sanctuary. Her son was critically injured after being shot in the head, with no immediate update on his condition. It was discovered that Moreno had a history of using both male and female aliases.
Finner did not specify whether the AR-15 was purchased through retail or a private sale, as Texas does not require a license to carry a rifle or handgun in public. Moreno also carried a .22 caliber rifle that she did not use during the shooting.
Moreno’s criminal history included charges for forging a $100 bill, an assault conviction, and a misdemeanor count for unlawfully carrying a weapon. In 2022, Moreno surrendered a pistol and a rifle during a traffic stop as part of a plea agreement. While her mental health history did not come up in the case, there is no comprehensive mental health tracking system to flag such issues.
Reports from Moreno’s former mother-in-law revealed that she had long tried to alert authorities about the danger posed by her ex-daughter-in-law, who had a history of threatening people with guns. However, authorities did not take action, leading to the tragic incident at the church. According to her former mother-in-law, Child Protective Services stated that there was nothing they could do until Moreno shot someone or her grandson used the gun.
Furthermore, advocacy groups in Texas have been pushing for “red flag” laws, which allow for the seizure or surrender of guns from individuals deemed dangerous, often due to mental health concerns or threats of violence. However, state lawmakers have resisted passing such laws, contributing to the ongoing issue of individuals with documented dangerous histories legally obtaining firearms.
The case of Moreno highlights the challenges in preventing individuals with criminal and mental health histories from legally obtaining guns, posing a significant risk to public safety. It also raises important questions about the need for stricter gun laws and mental health tracking systems to prevent such tragic incidents from occurring in the future.