From where? Infowars, the same site that said Rand Paul's neighbor was antifa?
The shooter was in the Airforce and after that taught bible school.
Texas church shooter who killed up to 26 people - including a pastor's 14-year-old daughter - was a married 26-year-old who was dishonorably discharged from the US Air Force.
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 Kelly was tackled by a heroic local man.
Kelley, 26, of New Braunfels, a suburb of San Antonio, fled in his SUV but crashed near state lines and was killed after a brief foot chase into Guadalupe County, according Guadalupe County Sheriff's Office spokesman Robert Murphy.
It's still unclear if the gunman shot himself or was taken down by a local resident.
San Antonio police 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. 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.
Texas Department of Public Safety Regional Director Freeman 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 tackled 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.'
Martin said that law enforcement gave tracked down the suspect, who went off the road and crashed near state lines.
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. She said he then ran on foot and was pursued by police.
The suspect is dead and there is no longer an active shooter threat, according to police.
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.
The department is also sending a unit to the suspect's home although it's not yet clear where that is.
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.
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 Kelly was tackled by a heroic local man.
Kelley, 26, of New Braunfels, a suburb of San Antonio, fled in his SUV but crashed near state lines and was killed after a brief foot chase into Guadalupe County, according Guadalupe County Sheriff's Office spokesman Robert Murphy.
It's still unclear if the gunman shot himself or was taken down by a local resident.
San Antonio police 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. 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.
Texas Department of Public Safety Regional Director Freeman 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 tackled 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.'
Martin said that law enforcement gave tracked down the suspect, who went off the road and crashed near state lines.
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,' he said, adding that the hero that engaged the shooter was not 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 a two-year-old and 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. 'We are not sure if it was self inflicted or if he was shot by a local resident,' he said, adding that the hero that engaged the shooter was not 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 a two-year-old and 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.
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. She said he then ran on foot and was pursued by police.
The suspect is dead and there is no longer an active shooter threat, according to police.
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.
The department is also sending a unit to the suspect's home although it's not yet clear where that is.
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.
Sutherland Springs is a rural community in Wilson County, Texas, that's made up of about 400 people. It's located about 30 miles southeast of San Antonio. There are 11 hotels in the area, and there used to be a 52-floor facility, but it closed in 1923.
Some residents fear that the gunman is someone they know becuase their community is so small, but Texas Congressman Vicente Gonzalez said 'apparently the shooter was not from the area, he was from outside of that area'.
Gonzalez told MSNBC that officials said they 'won't have final numbers until probably a few more hours'.
He said that based on what he knew, he did not believe the incident was related to terrorism, but 'was some kind of other incident that has to do with the church or the community'.
Carrie Matula, who works at a gas station near the church, told MSNBC that she heard 'semiautomatic gunfire' and looked to see what was going on.
'I never thought it would happen here,' Matula said. 'This is something that happens in a big city. I would never have thought this would have taken place here. It's just too tight a community. It doesn't make sense.'
Some residents fear that the gunman is someone they know becuase their community is so small, but Texas Congressman Vicente Gonzalez said 'apparently the shooter was not from the area, he was from outside of that area'.
Gonzalez told MSNBC that officials said they 'won't have final numbers until probably a few more hours'.
He said that based on what he knew, he did not believe the incident was related to terrorism, but 'was some kind of other incident that has to do with the church or the community'.
Carrie Matula, who works at a gas station near the church, told MSNBC that she heard 'semiautomatic gunfire' and looked to see what was going on.
'I never thought it would happen here,' Matula said. 'This is something that happens in a big city. I would never have thought this would have taken place here. It's just too tight a community. It doesn't make sense.'
President Donald Trump sent his condolences to the Sutherland Springs community. He also said he will continue to monitor the situation from Japan.
'God bless the people of Sutherland Springs, TX. Our country's hearts are breaking for the victims & their families. We love & are with you!' Ivanka Trump tweeted after learning of the shooting.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott released a statement following the shooting.
'While the details of this horrific act are still under investigation, Cecilia and I want to send our sincerest thoughts and prayers to all those who have been affected by this evil act.
'I want to thank law enforcement for their response and ask that all Texans pray for the Sutherland Springs community during this time of mourning and loss.'
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement: 'The thoughts and prayers of all Texans are with the people of Sutherland Springs as tragic reports come out of First Baptist Church.'
'Please join Angela and me as we pray for those impacted by this horrific shooting,' Paxton said.
'God bless the people of Sutherland Springs, TX. Our country's hearts are breaking for the victims & their families. We love & are with you!' Ivanka Trump tweeted after learning of the shooting.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott released a statement following the shooting.
'While the details of this horrific act are still under investigation, Cecilia and I want to send our sincerest thoughts and prayers to all those who have been affected by this evil act.
'I want to thank law enforcement for their response and ask that all Texans pray for the Sutherland Springs community during this time of mourning and loss.'
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement: 'The thoughts and prayers of all Texans are with the people of Sutherland Springs as tragic reports come out of First Baptist Church.'
'Please join Angela and me as we pray for those impacted by this horrific shooting,' Paxton said.
Texas Sen Ted Cruz tweeted: 'Keeping all harmed in Sutherland Springs in our prayers and grateful for our brave first responders on the scene.'
Photos show families tearfully praying outside their community building as they wait to see if their family and friends are safe.
There were at least six helicopters called in to transport victims to the hospital.
Megan Posey, a spokeswoman for Connally Memorial Medical Center, which is in Floresville and about 10 miles from the church, said 'multiple' victims were being treated for gunshot wounds.
She declined to give a specific number but said it was less than a dozen. Some victims were taken by medical helicopter to the Brooke Army Medical Center.
The University Health System also said in a tweet that their 'trauma team is caring for nine of the patients from the Sutherland Springs shooting, 4 children, 5 adults, + 1 more patient on the way'.
Special agents from ATF's Houston Field Division, San Antonio Field Office are on the scene along with the FBI.
Photos show families tearfully praying outside their community building as they wait to see if their family and friends are safe.
There were at least six helicopters called in to transport victims to the hospital.
Megan Posey, a spokeswoman for Connally Memorial Medical Center, which is in Floresville and about 10 miles from the church, said 'multiple' victims were being treated for gunshot wounds.
She declined to give a specific number but said it was less than a dozen. Some victims were taken by medical helicopter to the Brooke Army Medical Center.
The University Health System also said in a tweet that their 'trauma team is caring for nine of the patients from the Sutherland Springs shooting, 4 children, 5 adults, + 1 more patient on the way'.
Special agents from ATF's Houston Field Division, San Antonio Field Office are on the scene along with the FBI.
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
Law enforcement tracked down the suspect, who went off the road and crashed near state lines. Pictured is the suspect's car which was found with multiple weapons inside it.
