Following the chaotic aftermath of the shooting at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, distressing details are being released about the shooter and what drove her to commit this heinous act.
As Charisma News reported, two individuals were shot and wounded, including a child who is in critical condition, while the shooter now identified as Genesse Escalante Moreno was shot and killed by two swift-acting off-duty officers who were at the church.
It is now being reported that Moreno is a transgender individual from El Salvador who went by the name, Jeffery Escalante-Moreno.
BREAKING: The Lakewood Church shooter was transgender. He went by the name “Genesse” and previously “Jeffrey.”
Another act of trans terrorism. We need to have a national conversation about the LGBTQ movement turning youth into violent extremists. pic.twitter.com/CqrbbMKEw2
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 12, 2024
There is still confusion by many media outlets about whether Moreno/Escalante is woman who identifies as a man or a man who identifies as a woman, but the Post Millennial writes, “Reports indicated that the shooter was female, but it has since been revealed that Moreno was male.”
Regardless of the actual gender of the deceased suspect, this continues the harrowing trend of radicalized, LGBTQ shooters targeting Christian institutions, much like the Covenant School shooter Audrey Hale.
Hale was a woman who believed she was a man and former student at the Covenant School, who ended up killing six people including three children before officers killed her on the scene.
In the Lakewood terror attack yesterday in Houston, it has also been discovered that the shooter had written, “FREE PALESTINE” on the side of the rifle used to carry out the shooting.
The attack at Lakewood Church took place during the Spanish-speaking service around 1:53 p.m. Shots can be overheard on the church’s livestream with panicked congregants scattering in the background.
#BREAKING: Watch Moments when the active shooter began to fire shots at the Lakewood Church
Watch chilling footage of an active shooter incident during a live Spanish service broadcast. The suspect began firing multiple shots, resulting in a… pic.twitter.com/bfXGuSi436
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) February 11, 2024
Pastor Joel Osteen released a message following the shooting:
Our community is devastated by today’s events and grateful for the swift actions of law enforcement. May the healing hands of God touch the lives of everyone involved and provide comfort during this difficult time.
In the face of such darkness, we must hold onto our faith and remember evil will not prevail. God will guide us through the darkest of times. Together, we will rise above this tragedy and stand firm in our commitment to love and support one another.
In times like these, our faith is tested, but it is also strengthened. We don’t always understand why things like this happen, but we know that God is in control.
Please join me in continued prayer for healing and peace.
Our community is devastated by today’s events and grateful for the swift actions of law enforcement. May the healing hands of God touch the lives of everyone involved and provide comfort during this difficult time.
In the face of such darkness, we must hold onto our faith and… pic.twitter.com/hAzOSSX69i— Joel Osteen (@JoelOsteen) February 12, 2024
The deceased suspect has a history of criminal activity, as well as using multiple aliases in the past. According to KHOU 11 in Houston:
Moreno had a criminal history dating back to 2005, and previously identified as Jeffery Escalante, according to a Texas Department of Public Safety records search. Prior arrests include failure to stop and give information, assault of a public servant, assault causing bodily injury, forgery, possession of marijuana, theft, evading arrest unlawful carrying weapon.
Between the time of being shot and death, Moreno told police there was also a bomb. However authorities searched the backpack and vehicle used in the shooting as well as Lakewood Church without finding any evidence of a additional terror weapons.
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James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.
