26 Dead, 30 Injured in Texas Church Shooting (UPDATED)
Police responded to a shooting at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas this afternoon.
UPDATE –– 4:07 pm ET: Per multiple reports, the Wilson County Sheriff is saying 25 people, including the shooter, are dead:
#BREAKING – Wilson County Sheriff reports that 25 are dead, including the shooter in #SutherlandSprings Texas. @WGME
— Dan McCarthy (@DanMcWGME) November 5, 2017
UPDATE: Approximately 25 dead in Texas church shooting, Wilson Co. sheriff says https://t.co/rbelCiVLFW
— NBC News (@NBCNews) November 5, 2017
There are early reports of multiple victims being shot, and the shooter is reportedly dead:
According to multiple witnesses reaching out to KENS5, several have been shot at a church in Sutherland Springs, TX. https://t.co/IEKJlsF9rW
— KENS 5 (@KENS5) November 5, 2017
#BREAKING Confirmed shooting at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, police say multiple victims pic.twitter.com/1ljzxpqk4f
— Max Massey (@MaxMasseyTV) November 5, 2017
Police tell me shooter is dead and there is no more active threat pic.twitter.com/1QPX8uQtpY
— Max Massey (@MaxMasseyTV) November 5, 2017
You can watch a live stream of News 4 San Antonio’s coverage above.
A CNN correspondent reported that a witness said there were roughly 20 shots fired. You can watch that report here:
JUST IN: Witness says as many as 20 shots fired at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas https://t.co/ZC919cZoUC
— CNN (@CNN) November 5, 2017
We will update this post when more information comes in.
UPDATE –– 2:39 pm ET: Governor Greg Abbott tweeted this brief statement:
Our prayers are with all who were harmed by this evil act. Our thanks to law enforcement for their response. More details from DPS soon. https://t.co/KMCRmOPkiM
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) November 5, 2017
UPDATE –– 2:49 pm ET: A Texas county commissioner has said there have been multiple fatalities:
“There are a lot of fatalities,” Texas county commissioner tells @MSNBC from Sutherland Springs church mass shooting scene.
— NBC Nightly News (@NBCNightlyNews) November 5, 2017
UPDATE –– 3:09 pm ET: President Trump tweeted about the horrific shooting from Japan:
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
UPDATE –– 4:59 pm ET: Per ABC News, church pastor Frank Pomeroy said his own 14-year-old daughter is among those who were killed:
First Baptist Church Pastor Frank Pomeroy tells ABC his 14yr-old daughter is among the dead—Says she “was one very beautiful, special child”
— Michael Del Moro (@MikeDelMoro) November 5, 2017
UPDATE –– 5:48 PM ET: According to CBS News, the identity of the shooter is Devin Patrick Kelley — a 20-something, white male.
JUST IN: Suspect in Texas church shooting has been identified as Devin Patrick Kelley, sources tell CBS News https://t.co/iB6zuuPslE pic.twitter.com/gimMKQa17p
— CBS News (@CBSNews) November 5, 2017
UPDATE –– 6:49 PM ET: In a press conference, local officials reported the shooter was driven out of the church after being confronted by a neighbor of the church who had his own rifle. Authorities are still investigating whether the shooter killed himself or was shot by the armed local civilian.
UPDATE –– 8:34 PM ET: CBS News reports the shooter was an ex-serviceman in the US Air Force who was discharged for bad-conduct and subsequently court-martialed in May, 2014. According to The Daily Beast, Kelley was convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence, which can result in loss of Second Amendment rights.
[image via screengrab]
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