{"id":2174176,"date":"2024-02-12T13:40:02","date_gmt":"2024-02-12T18:40:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/free-palestine-shooter-at-joel-osteens-houston-megachurch-foiled-by-good-guys-with-guns\/"},"modified":"2024-02-12T13:42:13","modified_gmt":"2024-02-12T18:42:13","slug":"free-palestine-shooter-at-joel-osteens-houston-megachurch-foiled-by-good-guys-with-guns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/free-palestine-shooter-at-joel-osteens-houston-megachurch-foiled-by-good-guys-with-guns\/","title":{"rendered":"Attempted shooting at Joel Osteen&#8217;s Houston megachurch stopped by armed heroes"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ffree-palestine-shooter-at-joel-osteens-houston-megachurch-foiled-by-good-guys-with-guns%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2174176&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p><!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-content\">\n<p>Two armed, off-duty law enforcement officers heroically intervened to prevent a woman carrying\u200d a gun with the words &#8220;Free Palestine&#8221; from launching an attack on televangelist Joel Osteen&#8217;s Houston megachurch on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>Genesse Ivonne Moreno,\u200b also\u200b known as &#8220;Jeffrey Escalante,&#8221; entered Lakewood\u200d Church with a five-year-old boy and an \u200cAR-15, wearing a\u200c trench coat and backpack. She immediately opened fire,\u2062 unleashing approximately 12 shots.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2-long d-flex justify-content-center\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; \" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-268235250\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1379703300879-0\" class=\"mb-30\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-833496a7ca48f6c8e408b54d542db6a4 fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-833496a7ca48f6c8e408b54d542db6a4\"><\/div>\n<p>Fortunately, an armed Texas Alcoholic \u2063Beverage Commission officer and a \u2063Houston Police Department\u200d officer,\u200c who served as campus security, swiftly returned fire. This intense exchange was captured on Lakewood&#8217;s live stream during the Spanish service.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"> <span class=\"m1SutXebYKIrr4jNF7GtUkpBzyX8LfUzEFA32cglCi8Canq00Oagwq5dTw9jIKZyP24bhupNVHMYRvRo1oSDn3c5Gk9vAD\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">LAKEWOOD CHURCH SHOOTING:<br \/>This\u200c video from the Spanish sermon broadcast shows the moments gunshots rang out. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KPRC2?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@KPRC2<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/LakewoodChurch?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#LakewoodChurch<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Houston?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Houston<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/shooting?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#shooting<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/churchshooting?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#churchshooting<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/j6lSJTFer9\">https:\/\/t.co\/j6lSJTFer9<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Sg8kxCoVUs\">pic.twitter.com\/Sg8kxCoVUs<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 KPRC 2 Corley Peel (@KPRC2Corley) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KPRC2Corley\/status\/1756878692993683847?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February\u200b 12, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/span> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Tragically, Moreno\u2064 was \u2064fatally wounded by the return fire, but not before injuring a bystander and the child who\u2062 accompanied her. Before her demise, she spread an unknown fluid\u200c around her and claimed to possess an explosive. However, no incendiary devices were \u2063found by \u2064the police bomb squad during their search of Moreno&#8217;s vehicle and person.<\/p>\n<p>The motive behind Moreno&#8217;s attack on Lakewood remains unclear. Harris County Judge Lina Hildalgo suggested that the\u200b incident should be investigated as a hate crime due to it occurring during an all-Spanish service.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-ef80c6c5f15b685bda13e287183839e3 fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-6\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-ef80c6c5f15b685bda13e287183839e3\"><\/div>\n<p>A federal law enforcement source informed CNN that Moreno&#8217;s gun displayed the statement\u2062 &#8220;Free Palestine,&#8221; indicating a possible motive related to Lakewood&#8217;s support for the Jewish state as a Christian organization.<\/p>\n<p>Records reveal that\u200d Moreno, originally from El \u2064Salvador, had a \u2063lengthy criminal history, including assault, forgery, theft, \u2063evading\u2062 arrest, and unlawful carry of \u2063a weapon.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"> <span class=\"P\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud83d\udea8 BREAKING: Lakewood Church shooter identified as \u2062a transgender, legal name Genesse Moreno but went by the name \u201cJeffrey.\u201d \ud83d\udea8 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/0gmgybgOLC\">pic.twitter.com\/0gmgybgOLC<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Sara Gonzales (@SaraGonzalesTX) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SaraGonzalesTX\/status\/1757068047553007739?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 12, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/span> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quick \u2063On The Draw<\/h2>\n<p>The media and Democrats often exploit shootings to push for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/obama-calls-for-commonsense-gun-safety-laws-after-atlanta-shootings\/\" title=\"Obama Calls For \u2018Commonsense Gun Safety Laws\u2019 After Atlanta Shootings\">stricter gun control measures<\/a>. However, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-we-play-this-ridiculous-theater-cruz-slams-dems-for-using-shootings-to-push-gun-control\/\" title=\"WATCH: \u2018We Play This Ridiculous Theater\u2019: Cruz Slams Dems For Using Shootings To Push Gun Control\">disarming law-abiding citizens<\/a> does\u2064 not\u2063 prevent criminals from using firearms. It only leaves innocent people vulnerable in situations where\u2063 they may encounter a shooter.<\/p>\n<p>The responsible use of firearms \u2064in self-defense can save lives and protect individuals from harm. It is estimated that legal gun use in self-defense\u200d thwarts approximately 2.5 million crimes annually.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-14fe77fc7b0719d8bb4671c0e7fd050d fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-10\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-14fe77fc7b0719d8bb4671c0e7fd050d\"><\/div>\n<p>Osteen acknowledged that if the shooter had opened fire during the \u200dchurch&#8217;s 11 a.m. worship service, when security would have faced greater challenges \u2063in locating the perpetrator, the outcome could have been far more devastating. Houston Police Chief Troy Finner praised the armed officers for their swift action in\u200c protecting \u2062the congregation.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"> <span class=\"a3BCMmSnpP2NbxZltGfF71TQr00UFyO7j8caGVdPwDEfzDRVHZLYHwCm55uIvXAkeWs4OK3Is6QpM\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">LAKEWOOD\u2062 SHOOTING: Pastor Joel Osteen speaks\u200d out after a shooting happened inside Lakewood Church. <\/p>\n<p>The motive is unclear. <br \/>It occurred in between services as the Spanish service\u2062 was about to begin at 2 p.m. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/QPtFt6DiUN\">pic.twitter.com\/QPtFt6DiUN<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Charly Edsitty \u2064(@CharlyABC13) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CharlyABC13\/status\/1756813203542020449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 11, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/span> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>This incident is not the first time that members of a Texas church have bravely stopped shooters. In 2019, Jack Wilson, a retired reserve deputy sheriff and firearms instructor, shot and\u200c killed a man who\u200b opened fire during a\u2062 worship service at the West Freeway\u200b Church of Christ.<\/p>\n<p>If it weren&#8217;t for the intervention of the off-duty officers, Lakewood Church, which attracts tens of thousands of\u2064 attendees, could have\u2063 easily become the site of a mass shooting. The church&#8217;s proactive approach\u200c to security, while respecting the constitutional right to carry\u200b firearms, has undoubtedly saved and will continue to save lives.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-34c272319ce4a1708ec63e72a4b259b6 fdrlst__b89e9-after-post-content\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-34c272319ce4a1708ec63e72a4b259b6\"><\/div>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\">    \t\t\t\t\t   \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> rnrn  <\/p>\n<h2> Why is it\u200c crucial to approach this\u2062 incident with sensitivity \u2063and avoid politicizing it, focusing instead on\u2064 honoring the\u200b bravery of those involved and working towards creating a safer\u200b society<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Service, the\u2063 outcome could have been much more \u2064devastating.\u200b He expressed gratitude for the swift actions of the off-duty officers in preventing further harm and \u200closs of life.<\/p>\n<p>This\u200c incident serves\u2063 as a reminder of the importance of security measures and the role of armed personnel in protecting public spaces, including places of \u200dworship. It also highlights the ongoing need for individuals to exercise their right to bear arms responsibly and \u200dbe prepared to defend themselves and others when necessary.<\/p>\n<p>In the aftermath of the shooting, there has been speculation about the \u200cmotive\u200d behind Moreno&#8217;s attack. The presence of the words &#8220;Free Palestine&#8221; on her gun has led some \u200dto believe that it \u200cmay \u2064be related to Lakewood Church&#8217;s support for Israel as a Christian organization. However, the investigation is ongoing,\u2062 and no\u2064 clear motive has been established at this time.<\/p>\n<p>It is crucial not \u200cto jump to conclusions or make assumptions based on\u200c limited information.\u200b The true motive behind the attack can only be determined through a\u200b thorough and unbiased investigation. It is important \u2064for law enforcement \u200bagencies to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into all possible\u2063 factors and motives involved.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, it \u2064is \u2064essential to approach this incident with sensitivity\u2064 and respect. The fact that the shooting\u200c occurred during an all-Spanish service has led\u200c some to suggest that\u2063 it should be investigated as a hate crime. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo \u2062has raised this possibility, emphasizing the need to consider all\u2063 angles and examine any potential bias or \u200ddiscrimination that may have played a role.<\/p>\n<p>Lastly, \u200dthis tragic event should not be exploited\u2063 for political gain or used\u200d to push for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-had-a-record-number-of-mass-shootings-in-2020\/\" title=\"US Had A Record Number Of Mass Shootings In 2020\">strict gun control measures<\/a>. Instead, it should serve as\u2064 a reminder of the value of responsible firearm\u200d ownership and the potential for armed individuals \u2063to protect themselves and\u2064 others in life-threatening situations. Disarming law-abiding citizens does not solve the issue of gun violence;\u2062 it only leaves\u200b innocent \u2064people\u2062 defenseless against \u2063criminals who will\u2064 find ways to obtain guns illegally.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, the heroic actions of two off-duty officers prevented\u2062 a potentially devastating attack on\u2063 Lakewood Church. The motive \u2062behind the shooting remains \u200cunclear, and \u200ba thorough \u200binvestigation is underway. This\u2063 incident underscores the need for \u2064adequate\u200b security measures, responsible firearm \u2063ownership, \u200band the role of armed individuals in protecting public spaces. It is essential \u200bto approach \u200dthe investigation with sensitivity and avoid politicizing\u2064 the tragedy. Instead, let us focus on honoring the bravery of \u200cthose involved and strive to create a safer society for all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Two off-duty law enforcement officers prevented a woman carrying a gun with &#8220;Free Palestine&#8221; markings from attacking Joel Osteen&#8217;s Houston megachurch. Genesse Ivonne Moreno, 36, also known as &#8220;Jeffrey Escalante,&#8221; entered Lakewood Church with a trench coat, backpack, a five-year-old boy, and an AR-15. The officers intervened, averting a potential tragedy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":490,"featured_media":2174177,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Screenshot-2024-02-12-at-11.57.28-AM-e1707760740264-1024x575.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2174176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Screenshot-2024-02-12-at-11.57.28-AM-e1707760740264-1024x575.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2174176","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/490"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2174176"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2174176\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2174177"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2174176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2174176"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2174176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}