The Houston police department released body camera footage on Monday, showing off-duty cops armed to the teeth with a gun confronting a woman who had opened fire at a megachurch owned by famous pastor Joel Osteen earlier this month before she was shot and killed.
The Houston police shared videos from two of its officers present at Lakewood Church, along with footage from a Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputy.
Officers were seen crouching with handguns out while loud gunshots rang out repeatedly.
The sound of gunshots echoed through the church building as law enforcement officers moved closer to the origin of the gunfire.
“Please lower the weapon immediately,” an officer can be heard saying before discharging his firearm. Another officer warned, “she might be carrying an explosive device.”
Later, an officer communicated over the radio, “Shooter is down. It appears that she has something attached to her chest. Another officer called for the bomb squad.
Houston Megachurch Tragedy: Gun Woman Fatally Shot, Injuring Two, Including Son
According to authorities, Genesse Moreno, 36, walked into the church on Feb. 11 between Sunday services accompanied by her 7-year-old son and started shooting an AR-style rifle.
Moreno did not make it to the main sanctuary and was fatally shot after a shootout with two off-duty officers.
Two individuals were injured in the shooting, one of whom was Moreno’s child. He sustained a gunshot wound to the head and is currently receiving medical care in the hospital.
The child’s images, dressed in orange pants and a yellow shirt, were blurred following the shooting incident. “We have a child who’s down, with about three bullets to his head,” one officer communicated over his radio.
Paramedics were called by several officers who asked for assistance upon finding the young boy lying face-up in the carpeted hallway.
(backslash)Houston Police Chief Troy Finner mentioned in a statement on X, previously known as Twitter, that the video “may be disturbing to community members.”
“Although there are still unanswered questions, this investigation remains ongoing,” Finner stated.
“We will keep collaborating with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to carefully investigate all aspects of this incident.”
According to police, investigators are still working to uncover Moreno’s motive and gather more information on how she acquired the AR-style rifle she used.