Texas church massacre: What we know about latest US mass shooting
DAYS before his murderous rampage, Texas gunman Devin Kelley reportedly posted a picture of an assault rifle on his Facebook profile with the caption: ‘She’s a bad b***h’. Here’s what we know so far.
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CRAZED gunman Devin Kelley was dressed in all black, tactical-type gear and was wearing a ballistic vest when he embarked on his murderous rampage, it’s been revealed.
Kelley, 26, gunned down up to 26 worshippers at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, a small rural community about 50km southeast of San Antonio. The Pastor’s 14-year-old daughter Annabelle Pomeroy is among the dead.
“He was dressed in all black, tactical-type gear and was wearing a ballistic vest,” said Freeman Martin, regional director of the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Kelley’s rampage with a “Ruger AR assault-type rifle” was brought to an end by a local man who fired his own rifle at him as he left the church.
Here’s what we know so far.
■ Gunman dead at scene
Witnesses said the shooter, identified as Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, appeared to have reloaded more than once before his body was located in a vehicle nearby.
■ Security check
Kelley received a bad conduct discharge from the U.S. Air Force following a 2014 court martial. There have been reports in U.S. media that this was relating to allegations of domestic abuse.
■26 Dead, latest toll
CNN and BBC are reporting that at least 26 people were killed, while America’s ABC News said more than 30 had been left wounded in what has been called an “evil act”.
■Dozens Wounded
A two-year-old was among the wounded. Connally Memorial Medical Center received eight patients with gunshot wounds. Four had been transferred to San Antonio.
■Trump’s sadness
“This act of evil occurred as the victims and their families were in their place of worship. Our hearts are broken,” Trump said on a visit to Japan.
■FBI begin work at crime scene
The shooting comes two years after a white supremacist, Dylann Roof, entered a historically black church in Charleston, South Carolina, and shot nine people to death.
■Comedian’s controversial tweet
Chelsea Handler, who has been extremely vocal about ending gun violence in the past, posted a divisive tweet about the massacre.
Wilson County Commissioner Albert Gamez Jr: "It's a really sad deal. I can't even describe it. We can't even see inside the church." pic.twitter.com/Kvc87xaxOH
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) November 5, 2017
May God be w/ the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas. The FBI & law enforcement are on the scene. I am monitoring the situation from Japan.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 5, 2017
Days before the massacre, he reportedly posted a picture of an assault rifle on his Facebook profile, with the caption: ‘”She’s a bad b***h”.
President Donald Trump said he was monitoring the developing situation from Japan. “May God be w/ the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas”, he said.
A witness, a cashier at a gas station across the street from the church, said she heard about 20 shots being fired in quick succession while a church service was underway around 11:30am local time.
Wilson County Commissioner Albert Gamez Jr. said:”My heart is broken. We never think where it can happen, and it does happen. It doesn’t matter where you’re at. In a small community, real quiet and everything, and look at this, what can happen.”
Families praying at Texas church as they wait to hear about loved ones. Authorities say at least 20 dead in shooting https://t.co/M5UiHzSCYi pic.twitter.com/x4yykGml4Z
— ABC13 Houston (@abc13houston) November 5, 2017