TEXAS GOVERNOR HOLDS NEWS CONFERENCE AFTER CHURCH SHOOTING
The shooter entered the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, a small community south east of San Antonio before firing at defenceless worshippers, including a six-year-old and a two-year old child.
Hero local resident risked his life to tackle gunman
Texas Department of Public Safety Regional Director Freeman Martin said that Kelley was spotted at 11.20am at a Valero petrol station, ‘dressed in all black, tactical gear, wearing a ballistics belt.’
Martin added: “He crossed the street to the church, exited his vehicle and began firing on the church. He moved to the right side of the church and continued to fire, and entered the church and continued to fire.”
But as he left the church, a hero local man intervened, risking his life to tackle the shooter.
“A local resident grabbed his rifle and engaged the suspect,” Martin told MailOnline. “The suspect dropped his rifle, an assault-type rifle, and fled from the church. A local citizen pursued the subject at that time.”
Martin said that law enforcement tracked down the suspect, who went off the road and crashed near state lines.
Pentagon confirms suspect was in the Air Force
The Pentagon has confirmed that suspected gunman Devin Patrick Kelley was once a member of the US Air Force.
It has been reported that the 26-year-old was court martialled from the US Air Force three years ago, although the Pentagon gave no further details about Kelley’s service.
Chilling Facebook post showing assault rifle just a week before massacre
A since-deleted Facebook profile believed to belong to Devin Patrick Kelley showed an assault rifle with a post from a week ago reading: “She’s a bad b****.”
It also included a Mark Twain quote reading: “I do not fear death.”
The profile picture showed a man with two young children and stated that the man was married, while a LinkedIn profile indicated he and had once taught bible studies to children as young as four.
Kelley lived in New Braunfels, a suburb of San Antonio, and was reportedly court martialled from the US Air Force three years ago.
Earlier, it was reported that the suspect was a white male in his mid-20s with a possible US military background.
strong”
Donald Trump has addressed the media from Japan, where he is on a 12-day tour of Asia.
The President said “you cannot put into words the pain and grief we all feel” for the victims.
Trump was speaking in Tokyo where his visit was overshadowed by the shooting in southeastTexas.
(Image: REUTERS)
“Americans do what we do best, we pull together,” Trump said at the start of a meeting with business leaders. “We stand strong, so strong.”
He added federal authorities would help Texas in the aftermath of the shooting and that all of America was praying to God.
Pregnant woman among those killed
Representative Henry Cueller of Texas reported the death toll, and added that a pregnant woman and children were killed.
Shooter chased by brave resident before being found dead in his car
Kelley was chased off from the scene by a brave local resident who engaged him with a rifle, forcing him to drop his weapon and flee the scene.
He was later found dead in a vehicle, which had multiple weapons inside, in neighbouring Guadalupe County.
It is not clear whether the fatal wound was self inflicted or as a result of the clash with the member of the public.
Shooter entered church wearing tactical gear and bullet proof vest before opening fire
The shooter entered the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, a small community south east of San Antonio and fired at defenceless worshippers.
He was wearing all black tactical gear and a bullet proof vest as he shot people of all ages.
(Image: REUTERS)
Death toll confirmed at 26 - youngest victim aged just five
Authorities have confirmed 26 people died in the shooting.
Of the victims, 23 were found inside the church while two were discovered outside the building.
The youngest victim is five years old and the oldest is 72 years of age.
there" - witness
Jeff Forrest, a 36-year-old military veteran who lives a block away from the church, said what sounded like high-caliber, semi-automatic gunfire triggered memories of his four combat deployments with the Marine Corps.
“I was on the porch, I heard 10 rounds go off and then my ears just started ringing,” Forrest said. “I hit the deck and I just lay there.”
Suspect is local Texan, authorities confirm
The suspect, Devin Kelley, is from New Braunfels, near San Antonio in Texas, law enforcement officials have said.
New Braunfels is 35 miles from the scene of the shooting in Sutherland Springs.
(Image: REUTERS)
President Trump 'monitoring' the situation from Japan
President Donald Trump said he was monitoring the situation while in Japan on a 12-day Asian trip.
He wrote on Twitter: “May God be w/ the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas. The FBI & law enforcement are on the scene.”
KEY EVENT
Shooting suspect named
The suspect in the Texas church massacre has reportedly been named as Devin Patrick Kelley, aged 26.
Earlier, it was reported that the suspect was a white male in his mid-20s with a possible US military background.
The suspect’s identity was reported by the New York Times and CBS News.
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