The far-right has circulated false information suggesting that the Texas megachurch shooter, who injured two people on Sunday, was transgender.
It’s their latest attempt to bolster their unfounded narrative that transgender individuals are inherently violent and push forward the idea that “trans terrorism” is a valid concern.
Houston police have said that the shooter, Genesse Ivonne Moreno, identified as a female despite being connected to a man’s name – including Jeffery Escalante and Jeffery Escalante-Moreno.
“She has utilized both male and female names,” said Christopher Hassig, commander of the Houston Police Department’s homicide division. “But through all of our investigation to this point talking with individuals, interviews, documents, Houston Police Department reports, she has been identified as female. She. Her. And so we are identifying her as Genesse Moreno, Hispanic female.”
While Houston police haven’t identified a precise motive for Moreno’s assault, reports have surfaced indicating that she was diagnosed with schizophrenia, made antisemitic remarks during a dispute with Jewish relatives and underwent a contentious divorce. However, there is limited evidence supporting claims that she identified with a gender other than female, The Houston Chronicle reported.