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Published on February 27, 2024
Bodycam Footage From Police Shows Shootout at Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church in HoustonGoogle Maps

The Houston Police Department has gone public with bodycam footage showing the terrifying moments during a shootout at Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church. The footage, released on Monday, captured the chaos that unfolded when Genesse Ivonne Moreno, armed and accompanied by her young son, opened fire inside the megachurch on February 11, Fox News reports.

The videos, totaling nearly 30 minutes, starkly depict the tragic turn of events that led to Moreno's death after officers on the scene, who were working off-duty, quickly responded and neutralized the threat. Her 7-year-old son, unfortunately caught in the line of fire, was critically injured and remains hospitalized. Chief Troy Finner of the Houston Police Department expressed the sensitivity of the incident, stating, "We realize the video of this shooting may be unsettling to members of the community. HPD is releasing it as part of our commitment to release critical incident videos within 30 days," in a statement on social media.

The decision to release such distressing content is part of a broader initiative by the police force to foster transparency in its handling of serious incidents involving law enforcement. The released material includes surveillance footage, alongside the bodycam recordings from three officers at the scene, according to Express News.

One intense segment of the video shows a group of people, composed of both civilians and police personnel, conversing when they suddenly are alerted by the sound of gunfire. Without hesitation, the group looks towards the noise and begins quickly to move in the direction of the disturbance. 

The investigation into the shooting continues.