CRIME, POLICE + COURTS

Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church resumes Sunday service one week after shooting that left 7-year-old boy injured

Feb 18, 2024, 3:00 PM

A police officer stands inside Lakewood Church, Sunday, February 18, in Houston....

A police officer stands inside Lakewood Church, Sunday, February 18, in Houston. Pastor Joel Osteen welcomed worshippers back for the first time since a woman with an AR-style rifle opened fire in between services at his Texas megachurch last Sunday

Originally Published: 18 FEB 24 16:12 ET

(CNN) — Services at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston resumed Sunday morning with a large security presence, one week after a woman accompanied by her 7-year-old son walked into the megachurch armed with a rifle.

“Our God is still on the throne. Our God is still in control. I love that, you know, no weapon formed against us is gonna prosper,” Osteen said to cheers during the first service of the morning, which was live streamed. “God’s got us covered.”

The Texas megachurch announced it would open its doors Sunday for a “special service of healing, prayer and unity” after Genesse Ivonne Moreno, 36, began shooting upon walking into the famed Lakewood Church in between services on February 11.

Moreno, wearing a trench coat, wounded a 47-year-old man before turning the weapon toward law enforcement officers, who shot and killed her in self defense, authorities said.

Houston Police Chief Troy Finner, who spoke at a news conference Sunday afternoon, clarified that the police department previously incorrectly reported the age of the victim, who attended the service Sunday morning, as 57 years old.

Moreno’s child was shot in the head during the shooting, Finner said last week. It remains unclear who fired the shot that injured the 7-year-old, who remained hospitalized in critical condition on Sunday.

Finner said video footage of the incident will help determine who injured the child. “If our officer or if an agent, or whomever, shot that kid, I put that responsibility square[ly] on that suspect for bringing that kid in this tragic event,” Finner said Sunday.

Osteen prays for shooter’s family

The famed megachurch was filled with attendees on Sunday – some of whom wore “Lakewood Strong” shirts – as Joel and Victoria Osteen thanked them for returning. Joel Osteen was visibly emotional and said he hadn’t planned on crying as he walked onto the stage.

“You know what? It’s not tears of sadness, it’s tears of gratefulness for what God has done for us,” Osteen said. The pastor and televangelist later prayed for Moreno, referring to her as “the deceased woman,” and Moreno’s family.

“Lord, I just ask that you… heal the hurts in that family,” he said.

Investigators are still trying to determine what led Moreno to open fire at the church last week, including whether her mental health issues or a recent argument with her ex-husband’s family could have factored into the rampage.

Moreno’s mother-in-law, Walli Carranza, wrote Thursday on Facebook that the shooter had a history of mental health challenges and was allowed to own a gun despite this.

Osteen said during a news conference following the shooting that the incident’s timing likely prevented additional injuries, CNN previously reported.

“I can only imagine if it would have happened during the 11 o’clock service,” he said last Sunday.

During his first sermon at Lakewood Church since the shooting, Osteen said he never dreamed such an incident would unfold at the church his parents started 65 years ago.

“I just never, never thought we’d be dealing with this,” he said.

Osteen described the experience last week as “traumatic.” The pastor recalled he had just finished meeting with some visitors and returned to his office to change when someone informed him of an incident.

“I got back in my room, and like 20 seconds later, I got a text,” he told the congregation. “I looked down, it was the police chief … and he [texted] two words – ‘you okay?’ And I texted back … ’I’m okay, but I don’t know what’s going on.’”

He thanked the church’s security team, which flanked the stage as Osteen lightheartedly commented, “I feel safe, stay with us a minute there. Let me preach like this from now on,” while the congregation laughed before Osteen started a group prayer with joined hands.

Police: Footage of shooting to be released within 30 days

The show of resilience on Sunday came a week after the fear that unfolded in the third-largest church in the United States, leaving a young boy with a serious head injury, his grandmother shared on Facebook.

The child, who Carranza said went into cardiac arrest multiple times, has lost “a portion of his frontal lobe,” according to her post. “Half of his right skull has to be surgically removed during two surgeries done in less than 24 hours,” she wrote.

Investigators have said Moreno used multiple aliases of both male and female names, and was put under an order for emotional detention in 2016, CNN previously reported.

Police say her mental health history is documented, and Texas Department of Public Safety records show she had a string of arrests spanning two decades including possession of marijuana, an assault, illegal possession of a weapon, resisting arrest and a forgery charge.

The motive may never be clear in this case, according to Finner. Houston Police are reviewing footage from the incident that will be released within 30 days, as per department policy, the chief said.

CNN’s Christina Maxouris, Lauren Mascarenhas and John Miller contributed to this report.

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Crime, Police + Courts

judge retention bill...

Adam Small

Utah bill proposes 67% vote requirement for judicial retention

Under current Utah law, a simple majority is needed in the general election for judicial retention.

47 minutes ago

A Uintah County woman is accused of putting Borax in her children's water, allegedly to help their ...

Pat Reavy, KSL.com

Utah woman accused of putting Borax in her children’s water

Prosecutors say since the beginning of the school year in August, the suspect, Barbara Susan Williford, 47, "had been putting a pinch of Borax in her minor child's water."

1 day ago

A Unified Police Department vehicle sits in a neighborhood in Big Cottonwood Canyon on Friday, Feb....

Michael Houck

SWAT arrests man suspected of robbing a Utah bank and sending threats to another

SALT LAKE CITY — A man is accused of robbing a bank and stealing a dollar amount to reference the 9/11 attacks. On Thursday, Unified police and the FBI were called to a robbery that happened at a Chase Bank on 2855 E, 3300 South in Millcreek. Witnesses told investigators that a white man with […]

1 day ago

FILE — A Salt Lake City Police Department squad car. Salt Lake City Police Department’s Bike Sq...

Diana Jones

SLCPD officers arrest two people suspected of drug trafficking in Library Square

On Thursday, Salt Lake City Police Department’s Bike Squad arrested two men for suspected drug-trafficking operation in Library Square. 

3 days ago

FILE - A police vehicle flashes its lights. (Getty)...

Michael Houck

Pedestrian killed after being hit by a vehicle, Santa Clara-Ivins police say

A woman was fatally hit by a vehicle Friday evening, Santa Clara-Ivins police say.

4 days ago

Santa Clara murder charges...

Jacob Freeman

Charges brought against 15-year-old in Santa Clara murder case

A 15-year-old has been charged for killing a family member and wounding another in a Santa Clara home on Jan. 30.

4 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Full speed through the snow. A man on skis is pulled by his through the snow at full gallop Skijori...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Get ready for an unforgettable skijoring adventure in Bear Lake!

“Skijoring the Bear” takes place this year on February 21-22 in Garden City, Utah.

the bedroom in a geodesic dome shows the night sky...

Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon

Your front row to an extraordinary cosmos show

As America's first glass dome stargazing resort, Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon is one of the world’s most unique and spectacular places to stay.

2 people huddled up in a blanket and warm clothes sipping hot chocolate...

Bear Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau

The best ways to spend your Christmas vacation in Bear Lake

If you're dreaming of a white Christmas this year, Bear Lake should definitely be on your radar. Read this guide for more!

big crowd of people under holiday lights in an outdoor market...

Western Nut

Our favorite family Christmas activities in Utah

We gathered up a list of our favorite activities, movies, and treats to try this holiday season that the whole family can enjoy.

an IT tech looks at a laptop in front of a server network...

Comcast Business

Tips to protect yourself from phishing attacks

Check out this resource from Comcast Business to learn more about phishing attacks and how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of one.

A surprise gift, wrapped and ready to bring holiday cheer! Whether for Christmas, a birthday, or an...

Western Nut

10 Holiday Gift Ideas to cover everyone on your list

This guide is for you if you need holiday gift ideas that will make a lasting impression. 

Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church resumes Sunday service one week after shooting that left 7-year-old boy injured