A man wearing all black and a ballistic vest opened fire outside a small Baptist church in a tiny town in Texas, killing at least 26 people and injuring 20 in the country’s most recent mass horror.
United States President Donald Trump says the mass shooting at a Texas church “isn’t a guns situation” but a “mental health problem at the highest level.”
While no officials have publicly questioned Kelley’s mental health, Mr. Trump said that “is your problem here.” He offered no details.
“This was a very, based on preliminary reports, a very deranged individual. A lot of problems over a long period of time,” Mr. Trump said when asked about the shooting as he and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a joint news conference in Tokyo during Mr. Trump’s first official visit to Asia.
“We have a lot of mental health problems in our country, as do other countries. But this isn’t a guns situation,” the President said.
Abe condoles killing
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he would like to express “sincerest solidarity with the American people at this difficult time.”
Mr. Abe said that he and Mr. Trump would discuss various international issues, starting with North Korea. He said he hoped that the talks ould show the world that the U.S.—Japan alliance is solid. He did not take any questions.
'No way to escape'
A sheriff says there was likely “no way” for parishioners to escape once the shooting started at the Texas church.
Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt Jr. said on Sunday night that the shooter fired several shots outside before entering the Sutherland Springs church and walking toward the front of the congregation. Tackitt says the gunman then turned around and opened fire on his way back out the front door.
Mr. Tackitt says “I don’t think they could have escaped. You’ve got your pews on either side.”
Neighbours of suspect report recent gunfire
People who live near an address listed for the Texas church shooting suspect say they heard intense gunfire from that direction in recent days.
Sixteen-year-old Ryan Albers lives across the road from the listed home of suspect Devin Kelley. He says- “It’s really loud. At first I thought someone was blasting.”
Another nearby neighbour, who did not want to be identified, said he had also heard gunfire coming from across the street but couldn’t be sure if it came from the property listed as Kelley’s address. The neighbor added that the sound of gunfire is not unusual in the area given the seclusion and the big acreage of the surrounding properties.
Authorities say 26 people were killed and about 20 wounded in the shooting.
Suspect a former Air Force member
A U.S. military official says the suspect identified in the mass shooting at a Texas church was a former Air Force member who was stationed in New Mexico at one time.
Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek says records confirm that Devin P. Kelley served in Logistics Readiness at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico from 2010 until his discharge. The date of his discharge and the circumstances under which he left the service were not immediately available.
The Pentagon also confirmed that Kelley was an airman “at one point,” but didn’t provide additional details.
Authorities say 26 people were killed and about 20 others wounded in the attack in Sutherland Springs.
Act of evil, says Trump
President Donald Trump has promised his administration’s full support to the investigation of a Texas church shooting that left 26 dead and about 20 wounded.
Speaking to U.S. and Japanese business leaders in Tokyo Monday morning during his Asian trip, Trump highlighted that this “act of evil” at a place of sacred worship.
Trump says- “Our hearts are broken but in dark times and these are dark times such as these, Americans do what they do best.” He says Americans will pull together to help those suffering.
Trump says he will continue monitoring the investigation during his 11-day tour.
Prayer vigil
More than 100 people gathered after dark on a grassy street corner within sight of the church where the shooting occurred for a prayer vigil.
Attendees, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, lit candles while some wept and others hugged Sunday night. They could see the church sign lit up and emergency lights flashing.
The vigil across the street from a gas station convenience store where law enforcement officials say the shooter stopped before the attack.
Mike Gonzales, who does not attend the church but lives near says- “The people of this church are wonderful people.” Gonzales added, “We’re coming together to pray for them and show the world that now, in the midst of darkness, there is light.”
Pentagon's statement
The Pentagon has confirmed the suspect identified in the mass shooting at a Texas church previously served in the Air Force.
In a brief statement, the Pentagon says Devin Kelley was an airman “at one point,” but additional details about his time in the Air Force were not immediately available.
Authorities say 26 people were killed and about 20 others injured in the attack at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, 30 miles southeast of San Antonio.
Suspect identified
Two sheriff’s vans were parked outside and police officers stood at the gate of a cattle fence surrounding the address listed for the Texas church shooting suspect, preventing a group of waiting journalists from entering.
Two officials who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity have identified him as Devin Kelley.
Officials from the Comal County Sherriff’s Office and the Texas Rangers declined to comment Sunday evening, or to say if they had raided his home. A few minutes later, the gate opened and two Texas Rangers trucks pulled out.
The home is in a wooded area on the rural, western outskirts of New Braunfels, north of San Antonio. It is off a two-lane highway.
Authorities say 26 people were killed and about 20 wounded in the shooting.
Shooter 'dressed in black'
Texas authorities are offering more details about the timeline of a deadly church shooting.
Department of Public Safety regional director Freeman Martin says the alleged shooter was dressed in black, wearing tactical gear and a ballistic vest when he arrived at a neighboring gas station around 11-20 a.m.
As he left the church, the shooter met an unidentified area resident with his own rifle who pursued him. The suspect was found dead in his vehicle near the border between Wilson and Guadalupe counties.
Martin says it’s unclear if he died of a self-inflected wound or was shot by the resident.
Authorities haven’t announced the name of the suspect, only describing him as a white male in his 20s.
Two officials who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity identified the attacker as Devin Kelley.
23 killed
A top Texas public safety officer says that 23 of the people found dead in a shooting at a Baptist church were found inside the building, two others were outside and one person was transported but died later.
Freeman Martin, regional director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, says the ages of those killed ranged from 5 to 72.
The first report of the shooting was at about 11-20 a.m., or about 20 minutes after the church website says the Sunday worship was scheduled to start.
Deadliest shooting in Texas history
Gov. Greg Abbott says 26 people were killed in the attack on a Texas church and that it was the deadliest mass shooting in the state’s history.
Abbott’s remarks came during a news conference Sunday, hours after the attack on the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, a community 30 miles southeast of San Antonio.
The victims ranged in age from 5 to 72 years old.
Two officials who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity identified the attacker as Devin Kelley.
The officials one a U.S. official and the other in law enforcement spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation, which they were briefed on.
The U.S. official says Kelley lived in a suburb of San Antonio and that he doesn’t appear to be linked to organized terrorist groups. The official says investigators are looking at social media posts Kelley may have made in the days before Sunday’s attack, including one that appeared to show an AR—15 semiautomatic weapon.
Authorities say Kelley walked into the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs and opened fire, killing more than 20 people and wounding at least 10 others.
Pastor's daughter among victims
The wife of the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs says the couple’s 14—year—old daughter was among those killed in a mass shooting at the church.
Sherri Pomeroy, wife of Pastor Frank Pomeroy, said in a text message that she lost her daughter “and many friends” in the Sunday shooting. The text came in response to an interview request sent by The Associated Press to a phone number linked in online records to Frank Pomeroy.
Sherri Pomeroy says both she and her husband were out of town and trying to get back to Sutherland Springs, outside of San Antonio.
A law enforcement official says more than 20 people have been killed in a shooting at a church in a small town outside San Antonio.
Texas Gov. confirms killings
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is calling a reported shooting at a church in a small town outside San Antonio an “evil act.”
A sheriff says a man entered First Baptist church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, and started shooting, leaving multiple people dead and injured.
Abbott tweeted Sunday- “Our prayers are with all who were harmed by this evil act.” He thanked law enforcement for their response.
The Republican governor has also promised “more details” from the state’s Department of Public Safety soon.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement that his office “stands ready to assist local law enforcement as needed.”
Federal Bureau rushes forces
A spokeswoman says the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is sending special agents from field offices in Houston and San Antonio to the site of a church shooting in South Texas.
ATF spokeswoman Mary Markos did not immediately have further details.
A sheriff says that a man walked into the church and started firing. Authorities say the attacker is dead.
The number of fatalities or injuries hasn’t been confirmed by authorities, but a Wilson County commissioner, Albert Gamez, has told cable news outlets that he was told it was more than 20 killed and 20 wounded, though those figures aren’t confirmed.
One hospital about 10 miles from the shooting says there “multiple” victims with gunshot wounds are being treated.
Connally Memorial Medical Center spokeswoman Megan Posey declined to say how many patients were being treated at the hospital, but said the number was less than a dozen. The hospital is in Floresville, Texas.
Shootout at Texas church
A sheriff says a man walked into a Baptist church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, and started shooting, leaving multiple people dead.
The Wilson County News reports that Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt said the shooter has been taken down. It wasn’t immediately known how many people were killed and wounded or who carried out the attack.
First responders converged on the church in the small town southeast of San Antonio and helicopters are taking victims to hospitals.
Sutherland Springs is a community of about 400 people 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of San Antonio.
Local news outlets report that several people have been shot at a Baptist Church in South Texas.
Television stations KSAT and KENS report that there are multiple victims and that there is a large police presence at the church in Sutherland Springs, which is 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of San Antonio.
KSAT reports that two Airlife helicopters are also at the scene.
A sheriff’s department dispatcher says everyone is at the scene and unavailable to comment.
KSAT has video of several fire and police vehicles at the church and a photo of a helicopter that the station says was arriving to take victims to hospitals.
