The mass shooter who opened fire during Mass inside a Texas church killing at least 27 - including a two-year-old child - has been identified as a 26-year-old former Bible study teacher who was dishonorably discharged from the US Air Force.
Devin Patrick Kelley walked into the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, dressed in black, tactical gear with a ballistics belt and an assault rifle, and began shooting, according to local law enforcement sources.
The attack only stopped when Kelley was tackled by a heroic local man who shot back at the mass shooter as he left the church.
Kelley, 26, of New Braunfels, a suburb of San Antonio, fled in his SUV but the unnamed neighbor, and another local man, had given chase.
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| Devin Patrick Kelley (pictured) walked into the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, dressed in full combat gear, and began shooting, according to local law enforcement sources |
Eventually, Kelley lost control of his car and swerved off the road near state lines on the 539 county road, in Guadalupe County, and was reportedly shot dead by the neighbor.
He was found deceased by the cops who also discovered multiple weapons and possible explosives in his vehicle.
'We are not sure if it was self inflicted or if he was shot by a local resident,' said Texas Department of Public Safety Regional Director Freeman Martin.
San Antonio police also raided Kelley's home on Sunday evening, with K9 and bomb squad units.
Kelley, who was reportedly married, had recently posted a photo of an AR-15 style gun on his Facebook page with the caption: 'She's a bad b***h.'
A LinkedIn account which appears to be Kelley's states that he joined the US Air Force after graduating New Braunfels High School in 2009. He worked in logistics and supply in the Air Force until he was dishonorably discharged in 2014 and was even court martialed in May 2014, CBS News reported.
He then volunteered as a teacher for Bible studies at Kingsville First Baptist Church, according to his LinkedIn which shows him posing which a young child. Police are now investigating the possibility that Kelley was in a local militia group.
Wilson County Commissioner Albert Gamez Jr told CNN that at least 27 people - including the shooter- have been killed in the shooting, but the death toll is expected to climb. Victims include a two-year-old girl and the 14-year-old daughter of the pastor. The first responders on the scene were from local churches who began receiving texts from family and friends about the shooting.
The Connally Memorial Medical Center said 'multiple' victims are being treated.
What we know about the shooter
- Named as Devin Patrick Kelley, 26-year-old white male, of New Braunfels, a suburb of San Antonio,
- Was found dead in a crashed car after a brief chase following the shooting
- Was dressed in all black, tactical gear with a ballistics belt and multiple weapons in his car
- Fired outside the church, then went into the church and continued to fire
- Resident near the church intervened, and knocked the gun out of Kelley's hands, then chased him in his car
- Kelley showed off an AR-15 rifle on Facebook recently
- Served in the military in 'cargo, demand and supply and distribution' but was dishonorably discharged
- Was married and believed to have taught a Bible studies at Kingsville First Baptist Church
Martin said that Kelley was spotted at 11.20am at a Valero gas station, 'dressed in all black, tactical gear, wearing a ballistics belt.'
'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, the unnamed local hero risked his life to stop him.
'A local resident grabbed his rifle and engaged the suspect,' Martin said. 'The suspect dropped his rifle, an assault-type rifle, and fled from the church. A local citizen pursued the subject at that time.'
Another local resident, Johnnie Langendorff, who had witnessed the gun battle, said both he and the unnamed neighbor had jumped in his truck and gave chase.
In a Facebook post, Langendorff's girlfriend Summer Caddel described how the pair had 'jumped in my boyfriend's truck and they chased that sick b*****d down in pursuit until the cops could catch up. He was able to run the shooter off of the road on 539!'
Langendorff told ABC 12 that he'd been speeding at 95mph, while on the phone to dispatch, while the neighbor kept his rifle trained on the gunman's car.
As they approached a sharp curve in the road, near the 307 and 539, he said Kelley appeared to lose control and his car swerved off the road.
'That's when I put the truck in park,' he said. 'The other gentleman jumped out, and had his rifle on him. He didn't move after that.'
Caddel added that Kelley was gunned down with a few feet from her boyfriend. Neither Langendorff nor the neighbor were injured.
Martin said that 23 found dead inside the church, and another two bodies were recovered from outside the building. Another person, who was taken to hospital, died while receiving treatment.
Injuries range from minor to very severe, while victims were aged from five-years-old to 72.
It's not yet clear how many were in church at the time of the shooting but Martin said some escaped unhurt. 'My heart is broken,' Gamez said. '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.'
At least 24 others were injured in the horrific shooting, including four kids from the same family. They include a five-year-old boy - named only as Rylan - who was shot four times and is currently undergoing emergency surgery in hospital, two girls, aged 5 and 7, who are also in surgery, and an 8-year-old who hid under a pew during the shooting.
It is believed to have been the worst shooting at a place of worship in American history.
First Baptist Church Pastor Frank Pomeroy told ABC that his 14-year-old daughter is among the dead. She 'was one very beautiful, special child,' the pastor said. His wife, Sherri Pomeroy, said her husband was out of town at the time of the shooting.
A young man standing outside the Brooke Army Medical Center told MySA.com that he had been wounded in the shooting and that this father had been killed. His mother was in another hospital.
Amanda Mosel's 13-year-old goddaughter was gunned down in the shooting. With tears in her eyes, the 34-year-old stood outside the Sutherland Springs Community Building where citizens gathered following the shooting. A woman wrote on Facebook that she saw the man flee the scene in his vehicle before crashing it not far from her daughter's house.
San Antonio Police Department reportedly sent in their bomb squad to investigate an SUV abandoned in Guadalupe County, near Sutherland Springs, which is believed to have belonged to the shooter, News 4 San Antonio reports.
Police could not give an exact number of victims shot in the attack, but witnesses said they heard as many as 20 shots fired. It appears that almost everyone in the church during the service was shot.
Dana Fletcher, who owns a store in Sutherland Springs, told CNN: 'It's just awful...there were emergency responders everywhere.'
Neighbors in the area said they may have heard the shooter reload multiple times. Another witness at the scene said a two-year-old was also shot in the attack.
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Crime