HOUSTON — Houston police released multiple videos Monday showing the fatal shooting of a woman who was firing an AR-style rifle inside Lakewood Church earlier this month.
The surveillance video and police body camera footage was released more than two weeks after the Feb. 11 shooting. it showed the terror of the brief attack: Parishioners scattering, searching for safety in rooms and hallways. Officers drawing guns and taking cover behind walls. And the shooter's 7-year-old son covering his ears during the chaos, and moments later laying on the floor after being shot and wounded.
“Put the weapon down, now,” an officer can be heard shouting before firing his weapon. Another officer cautions: "She may have a bomb.”
Houston police released the roughly 26 minutes of video, which includes the sounds of dozens of bursts of gunfire, as questions remain over the attack that left the shooter, Genesse Moreno, 36, dead and two others injured. Authorities have still not released a motive for the shooting or confirmed who shot Moreno's son, Samuel, in the head. He remains in critical condition.
Houston police released the video on their YouTube page. A warning: The video shows the shootout and aftermath and has profanities. It may be difficult for some people to watch.
In the video, you can see Moreno walk into Lakewood Church with Samuel. Shortly after entering, she began firing an AR-style rifle that she had under her trenchcoat. Police said she had another weapon in a bag she was carrying.
According to police, once inside the church, Moreno tried to get into the sanctuary, but it was locked. A volunteer saw what was happening and notified off-duty HPD Officer C. Moreno, who began exchanging gunfire with her. TABC agent Adrian Herrera saw the shootout and also started to exchange gunfire with Genessee Moreno.
Genessee Moreno was hit several times and was pronounced dead at the scene. Another person – a 57-year-old man – was also wounded. That man was taken to the hospital and released the following day.
Before Moreno died, you could hear her on video saying, "I will blow this whole (expletive) place up." She goes on to say, "You killed my son."
A search was conducted of Lakewood Church after the shooting, but there were no explosives found.
There is only a bodycam video from HPD officers of the shooting. It's policy for the Houston Police Department to release bodycam video of deadly shootings within 30 days. TABC agents don't wear bodycams.
HPD officer heard on bodycam praying
Officer Garcia was standing in a hallway talking with other law enforcement officers when they suddenly heard what appeared to be gunshots.
"Why are people running?" Garcia asked.
Then as she and other officers ran toward the gunfire, you can hear Garcia say," Father God... Father God, just be with us."
As Garcia got closer to the shooter, she kept praying.
"Come on. Come on. We need to approach. Father God, just be with us. Forgive us our sins," Garcia prayed.
As she rounded a corner, she was told the shooter was down. She then knelt beside Moreno's 7-year-old son who was unconscious with a bullet wound to the head.
“Father God, please bring him close to you," Garcia said.
Reaction to officer's response to shooting
After watching the bodycam videos, many questioned some of the officers' responses to not engaging with the shooter quickly.
Katherine Schweit, the creator of the FBI's active shooter program, said the officers had to make split-second decisions, and in her opinion, she said they did a great job.
"It was gripping to listen to the officer asking God to guide them knowing she needed to move forward as fast as she could. The frightening part, the reality you see in that footage, she doesn't know what she's going to face."
Schweit said when you're in the heat of it, your objective is to try to get to the shooter, neutralize the situation, and pick up the messy pieces later.
"That poor little boy is part of those messy parts," she said.