14 February 2024 , 20:59
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The shooter who opened fire at a church on Sunday was captured in surveillance footage hours before the horrific incident.
A video shows Genesse Moreno reportedly "preparing" for her violent mission outside her home in Conroe, Texas, with her car parked near the garage door. The trunk of her car is seen popping open in the clip and her vehicle is backed up to her garage, while a tarp is cutting off the view of anything going in and out.
Moreno, 36, on Sunday entered the Lakewood Church in Houston in a trench coat and with her seven-year-old son and opened fire unleashing chaos as congregants scrambled for safety. She was swiftly gunned down and killed by security officers and her son was critically injured in the shootout. The assailant utilised an AR-style rifle, legally purchased despite a troubling criminal record and a documented history of mental illness.
READ MORE: Lakewood Church shooter had aimed guns at kids before - but police 'ignored' warnings
View the video here:
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Despite intense scrutiny, the motive behind Moreno's heinous actions remains unclear. The incident adds to a concerning pattern in Texas and beyond, where individuals with histories of criminality and mental health issues have managed to procure firearms legally. Investigations into the source of Moreno's weapon, acquired in December, are ongoing, with police yet to disclose details regarding its origin.
Chief Troy Finner of the Houston Police emphasised the need to address the intersection of mental illness and gun access. Finner said: "We’re not people standing up here against (Second Amendment) rights, but people who are suffering from mental illness, criminals … we’re looking at that."
Police have not disclosed how Genesse Moreno obtained the rifle in December (ABC)Moreno's troubled past, marked by criminal convictions including assault and unlawful possession of firearms, paints a troubling picture. Furthermore, concerns were raised by Wesley Wittig, a prosecutor in Fort Bend County, regarding the lack of a comprehensive system to track individuals with mental health issues.
Wittig said: "Systems only document what’s already happened. While that could result in some prevention, the real issue is probably deeper than that because it’s people and just tracking stuff doesn’t fix people. Without having a serious sit down with all the potential issues and problems and paths forward, we’re probably not going to have a comprehensive answer any time soon."
Worshippers fled as Genesse Moreno opened fire in the Houston megachurch hallway (Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office)For all the latest news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US
Court documents suggest that warning signs regarding Moreno's behaviour were ignored. Her former mother-in-law, Walli Carranza, attested to repeated attempts to alert authorities about Moreno's concerning conduct, including threats involving firearms.
Carranza wrote in a statement posted Monday on Facebook: "Let it be clear that the Second Amendment stops where the First Amendment right to life begins and it’s time to remove from the U.S. Constitution any protection for gun ownership."
Carranza's efforts, however, were reportedly met with inaction, highlighting systemic failures in addressing potential threats.
The shooter's 7-year-old son was critically injured in the incident (ABC 7 CHICAGO)Criticism has been directed towards the state's legal framework, with advocates like Nicole Golden from Texas Gun Sense advocating for implementing "red flag" laws. Golden said: "We should be protecting our communities from harm by those with documented dangerous history."
These laws would empower law enforcement and family members to intervene when individuals exhibit dangerous behaviour or mental instability.
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