Houston police on Monday released body camera footage showing their response to an active shooter who opened fire at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood church earlier this month.
At 1:53 p.m. on February 11, Salvadoran Janece Yvonne Moreno began firing a gun at the megachurch and was eventually shot and killed by an off-duty police officer at the scene.
Moreno was accompanied by his 7-year-old son, who was shot in the head and is still fighting for his life.
In a social media post, Houston police released footage from the moment the gunshots rang out in the church’s west hall until the gunman collapsed.
The Lakewood church shooter has been identified as Genesee Yvonne Moreno. “Palestine” written on a gun
Surveillance footage released by Houston police shows the moment a gunman opened fire inside Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church. (Houston Police Department)
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner released a statement on social media saying, “We understand that footage of this shooting may be disturbing to members of the community. HPD will release footage of critical incidents within 30 days. “We are releasing it as part of our commitment to make it publicly available.”
Four videos released by the department show various aspects of the incident, including surveillance footage from three law enforcement officers and body camera footage.
In one video, a group of people, including law enforcement officers, are standing and talking when gunshots are heard in a hallway.
As soon as the first gunshots are heard, the group looks in the direction the gunshots came from and begins walking in that direction.
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Body camera footage showing various aspects of the Feb. 11, 2024 Lakewood Church shooting has been released by the Houston Police Department. (Houston Police Department)
As more shots were fired, officers with body cameras began running in the direction of the shots, and people began running in the opposite direction.
As several people took cover, the officer drew his gun and began walking toward the gunman, but Moreno was not in sight.
More shots rang out as she and the others moved toward the gunman, whispering, taking cover as much as possible.
“Come on, we have to get close,” one officer whispers to the other before praying. “Father God, just be with us. Forgive us our sins. Come on.”
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As they approached, they found a 7-year-old boy lying on the ground, almost lifeless.
Another video taken from a body camera shows the officer hiding behind a wall and peeking out when the gunman begins firing.
Moreno was later heard saying, “You killed my son. Stand back. I have a bomb. I have a bomb.”
Lakewood church shooting: Woman with child sets fire inside Joel Ostin’s Texas megachurch
The suspect Houston police say opened fire on the Lakewood church, Genes Yvonne Moreno, used multiple aliases, including Jeffrey Escalante Moreno. She has also been arrested six times dating back to 2005. (Texas Department of Public Safety/Kirk Side/Houston Chronicle, via AP)
In between statements, Moreno continued to fire his gun.
“All I need is help,” she said. “I need help, that’s all.”
The gun fires several more times.
“There’s a bomb in this bag. Don’t shoot,” she shouted, but the officers shouted back to her to put down their weapons. “We won’t stop. The bomb will explode.”
When the officer with the camera notices the shooter lying on the ground, more gunshots are fired, then he retreats with other officers.
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Surveillance cameras at the church also captured the moment the gunman opened fire and people rushed to get out of the way and get to safety. The video also showed the moment Moreno fell to the ground from the gunfire.
“We know there are unanswered questions, but this remains an active investigation,” Finner said. “We continue to work with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate all aspects of this incident. Our partnership with religious institutions remains a priority. We will continue to enhance safety so you can participate safely.” Don’t be afraid. “
