Headline Roundup • February 12th, 2024
Shooting at Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church Leaves Two Injured
Violence In America,Gun Control And Gun Rights,Gun Violence,Religion And Faith,Christianity,Antisemitism,Palestine
Summary from the AllSides News Team
During a service at celebrity pastor Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, a woman opened fire in a hallway outside the sanctuary, leading to two injuries.
The Details: The shooter, identified as Genesse Moreno, was reportedly wearing a trenchcoat and carrying a backpack, was armed with a long rifle, later identified with the words “Free Palestine” written on it. Moreno is believed to have entered the building with a 7-year-old boy. Moreno was reportedly confronted by off-duty officers from the Houston police and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. The woman was killed, and the 7-year-old boy was shot and critically injured. A 57-year-old man was shot as well, but has since been discharged from the hospital. Law enforcement officials reportedly uncovered anti-semitic writings by Moreno following the shooting.
Key Quote: A statement on the Lakewood Church website reads, “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.” ABC News (Lean Left bias) quoted police stating, “We do believe that there was a familial dispute that has taken place between her ex-husband and her ex-husband's family.”
How the Media Covered It: Coverage varied by outlet. The Daily Beast (Left bias) provided further context to the shooter’s identity and past criminal history, while Breitbart (Right bias) mechanics of the shooting, emphasizing that the shooting was stopped by a “good guy with a gun.”
This summary was developed with the help of AllSides' AI technology.
Featured Coverage of this Story
Reuters
A Texas woman clad in a trench coat and accompanied by a child opened fire in a crowded Texas megachurch before she was gunned down by police, officials say.
The suspect, named by police as Genesse Ivonne Moreno, 36, was with her seven-year-old son, who was critically injured in the Houston shootout.
Investigators said the attacker had "Palestine" written on the butt of her rifle and they had uncovered antisemitic writings by her.
But they said the motive is unclear.
A 57-year-old man was wounded in the shooting and has...
Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office.
Houston police said Monday that Genesse Moreno, the suspect who was shot dead Sunday during a shootout at Joel Osteen’s megachurch that left two others wounded, had a “Palestine” sticker on her rifle and made antisemitic writings.
Moreno, 36, had a string of previous arrests that included assault, drug, and weapons charges, and police revealed in a Monday news conference that she had a “documented” history of mental health issues.
Christopher Hassig, the commander of the Houston Police Department’s homicide division, said Moreno was engaged in an ongoing dispute with...
Kirk Sides/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images
A shooter at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, was reportedly stopped by a Harris County Sheriff’s deputy working security at the church Sunday morning.
Update: Around 4 p.m. Central Time ABC News reported that Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez “corrected an earlier statement claiming it was a sheriff’s deputy that fired the shot.” Gonzalez now says the shooter was stopped when “other agencies fired.”
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez responded to news of the shooting with an X post saying, “It is believed that a possible shooter is down, shot...
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