HOUSTON — In a recently discovered social media post, Lakewood Church shooting suspect Genesse Moreno can be seen holding a gun that fits the description of the weapon Houston police have said was used on Sunday.
The image was posted to a “channel” on the social media platform Telegram.
The image features Moreno holding a gun with a red “Palestine” sticker on the buttstock. A caption on the Jan. 15 post read “in a month they going to get polished.”
In a press conference Monday, police described a similar weapon.
“There were two weapons of hers recovered on the scene, an Anderson Manufacturing AR-15 which was what she utilized to fire at the officers. There was a sticker on the butt stock of rifle that stated Palestine,” said HPD Homicide Division Chief Chris Hassig.
Researchers with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) discovered the image and the Telegram channel, according to a blog post on the organization’s website.
KHOU 11 News has independently verified the Telegram post and Moreno’s account on the platform which posted numerous antisemitic messages.
In a Dec. 23 post, Moreno wrote about a “purpose to do for Islam and Christianity” and her desire to “kill all Jews.”
In a Jan. 3 post, Moreno appeared to consider some sort of attack on a pro-Israel rally asking other Telegram users to invite her to a rally where she would have a “two surprises.”
Speaking to KHOU 11 News, the ADL denounced the use of hate speech in Moreno’s account.
“In this case in particular, we have seen antisemitism conducts itself like this lethal virus that harms not just Jewish people but all people in its wake,” said Mark Toubin, ADL Southwest Regional Director.