SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas – The Latest: The gunman was identified as Devin Kelley, 26, of nearby Comal County, Texas, two law enforcement officials who were not authorized to comment publicly told USA TODAY. Wilson County Commissioner Albert Gamez Jr. told CNN the gunman died following a short police pursuit. Officials did not immediately know a motive for the attack.
Martin, with the Texas DPS, did not name the suspect during the news conference but said the gunman was dressed in black and wore a ballistic vest. He began firing outside the church and then entered the building and continued firing.
As he left the church, a local resident with a rifle pursued the gunman, who dropped his Ruger AR assault-type rifle and fled. Martin said it was unclear whether the suspect was killed by a shot from the local resident or from self-inflicted wounds.
The Pentagon confirmed Kelley previously served in the Air Force as an airman “at one point.” Additional details about his time in the Air Force were not immediately available. (WFAA)
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Update: The Wilson County Sheriff says: “We don’t know names of any of the victims at this time.” Governor Greg Abbott confirms in a press conference that the death toll has risen to 26. The ages range from 5 to 72 years old.
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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.
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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.
The official, who was briefed on the investigation, says the gunman fled the church in a vehicle after the shooting and was also killed, either by a self-inflicted wound or during a confrontation with police. The official was not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
Officials say the 14 year old daughter of the Church Pastor is one of the many who have died. The pastor and his wife are out of town
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Local media reports that the sheriff of Sutherland Springs 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.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
(Credit: AP) Photo Credit: WFAA [Richard Cortez: KENS]
