HOUSTON — A week after shots were fired inside Lakewood Church, in-person services resumed.
Genesee Moreno was killed by two off-duty officers after she walked inside the megachurch armed with an AR-15 style rifle and fired shots.
Moreno’s 7-year-old son, Samuel Moreno, who she brought to the church, was shot in the head. He’s still in a hospital in critical condition. Another man, an innocent bystander, was hit in the leg.
Pastor Joel Osteen said this special service on Sunday was one of healing and unity.
“It was a shooting, but somebody said it didn’t have the word mass before it and that’s the grace of God. I thank God for that," he said.
Victoria Osteen also said the service was about reclaiming.
"Reclaiming what is ours. Reclaiming the space,” she said.
Despite what happened, Pastor Osteen said several miracles took place that Sunday afternoon.
“The thing that hits me is that that the officer that helped to neutralize her was really a hero,” said Osteen. “And it was a miracle that he stepped up because she had this big, long weapon and he didn’t have that. I mean that was certainly a miracle.”
Many churchgoers were happy to be back and holding on to their faith, like mother and daughter Danyelle and Demyia Judie.
“There is no reason to fear here. I'm here to support not just my pastor, but the vision of Lakewood,” said Danyelle Judie.
Members part of Iglesia Lakewood, like Liana Vega, were also glad to be back for their afternoon service. Vega has been part of the church for 19 years and recounts what it was like inside last Sunday when shots were fired.
She described to KHOU 11 News what she remembers from that day, seeing people running but also, she said people were praying.
Pastor Osteen said praying is something they’ll continue to do for everyone.
“Our message is we're here to help you heal, to begin that process,” said Osteen. "And I know, sometimes that memory and that trauma can just try to pull you back, but I believe God's gonna help them and help us to be able to help them in a greater way."
According to Osteen, the church has reached out to the family of Samuel Moreno, but they have not heard back. Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said the young boy is still in the hospital in critical condition.
During a press conference following the services, Finner said they will release bodycam footage of the shooting, per department policy.
"Yea, we'll release it as our policy here at HPD. We release within 30 days. We're still going through some of the footage and that's a long process sometimes. So, several officers, and it's not just the officers that are involved in the shooting, anybody that has any footage that's related, you know we got to go through all that," he said.