A shocking incident earlier today left at least 26 people dead after a shooter opened fire on churchgoers in Sutherland Springs, Texas. The shooter has been identified as 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley, per law enforcement sources, and was found dead in his vehicle shortly after the incident.
In a statement issued from Japan, President Donald Trump called the shooting “horrific” and condemned it as an “act of evil.”
At this time, most of the victims have not been named, but one of them was the 14-year-old daughter of Pastor Frank Pomeroy of the First Baptist Church, said the girl’s mother Sherri Pomeroy. The couple were out of state during the incident.
The Texas town of Sutherland Springs about 35 miles east of San Antonio is devastated by the shootings, as the small town has been described as a place where “everybody knows everybody” and a “close-knit community.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has asked for flags across the state to be flown at half-mast until Thursday.
The suspect, Kelley, was found dead with a gunshot wound inside his vehicle, but police are unsure whether the wound was self-inflicted or if Kelley was shot by one of the local residents who used their own rifle to engage Kelley as he left the church after opening fire. Kelley is believed to have opened fire even before entering the church.
The FBI is now on the scene, and about 100 family members of victims still await news about their loved ones. Those that are believed dead range in age from 5 to 72.
The church service began at 11 am, and the shooting occurred sometime after 11:20 am local time on Sunday morning, when the suspect was seen at a Valero gas station across the street from the First Baptist Church.
There is no information as of now about the suspect’s motive for opening fire on churchgoers or whether he shot himself. Kelley was killed after he fled into the neighboring Guadalupe County.
Our prayer are with the families of the victims of this mindless killing.
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