During the first Sunday service after the recent shooting at Lakewood Church in Houston, Joel Osteen preached about “restoration and healing.” He declared, “Lord, we think of your faithfulness, especially this week, what you brought us through.”
Acknowledging the gravity of the incident, Osteen noted the potential severity of the shooting, which occurred recently between services. He stated, “We don’t take it for granted. Your angels were watching over each one of us.”
On February 11, 2024, off-duty officers at the church shot and killed a female shooter. The officers identified her as 36-year-old Genesse Ivonne Moreno. Addressing the congregation, Osteen said, “This troubled woman came in and tried to strike fear. This is the time to shine brighter.”
Regrettably, two people, including Moreno’s 7-year-old son, Samuel, and a 57-year-old man, suffered injuries in the crossfire. Samuel sustained a gunshot wound to the head and was immediately transported to Houston’s Children’s Hospital.
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In a Facebook post shared three days after the shooting, Samuel’s grandmother, Walli Carranza, revealed that he lost “a portion of his frontal lobe” as a result of the gunshot. In a heartbreaking update, Carranza shared that they removed “half of his right skull” surgically. She noted this happened during “two procedures conducted in less than 24 hours.”
She further stated, “He was in cardiac arrest multiple times, and no one can determine whether he has significant brain activity.” During the Sunday service, Joel Osteen was visibly emotional while preaching. He preached, seeking divine intervention for Samuel’s recovery, asking God to “show him your mercy.”
Osteen further prayed during the service, saying, “I just ask you, Lord, to heal the hurts in that family.” Additionally, he extended his prayers to the second victim, a 57-year-old man who suffered gunshot injuries in the leg, wishing for his complete recovery.
Notably, the hospital discharged the man after receiving the necessary treatment. Reflecting on the sad event, Osteen shared, “It was traumatic, you know, for a lot of people that were here and even people that weren’t here. This is our church, and this is what God has given us.”
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He continued, “For somebody to come in and kind of, not kind of, but violate and do something crazy — but you know what? Like we singing in all these songs, we trust in God.” Following the tragic incident, Carranza expressed her perspective to ABC News.
She said she believed that the shooting was “predictable and preventable.” Additionally, she highlighted concerns about her former daughter-in-law’s mental health issues. She emphasized that, despite having schizophrenia, she had the right to own guns.
The motive behind the shooting remains under investigation as police look into Moreno’s background. According to police documents, Moreno has a well-documented history of mental health and a criminal record.
Notably, a sticker saying “Palestine” was seen on the AR-15 rifle recovered from the scene. Police believe that a familial dispute occurred between Moreno, her ex-husband, and his family, some of whom are Jewish.
This new detail adds a more complex layer to the investigation, suggesting a possible connection between the shooting and the dispute.
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