UPDATE (7:50 p.m.): Tim stepping in here for Christine. Below is an interview with Johnnie Langendorff, one of the heroes from today who helped stop the shooter.
UPDATE (6:55 p.m.): While it's still uncertain if Kelley killed himself or was killed by someone else, here's some updated information about what happened after the shooting.
After shooting up the church, a local man grabbed a rifle and pursued Kelley. Kelley then dropped his own weapon and fled. The two engaged in gunfight before Kelley was found dead in his vehicle.
Suspect found dead in a vehicle - they still don't know if he killed himself or was killed by the local who pursued him
— Rachel D. Rice (@RachelDRice) November 5, 2017
BREAKING: DPS confirms the Sutherland Springs suspect "engaged in gunfight" with another citizen who tried to stop him. Cannot confirm if citizen killed him or if it was self-inflicted gunshot.
— Kris Betts (@KrisB_KVUE) November 5, 2017
According to Texas officials, 23 of the 26 victims were found dead inside the church. Two were found dead outside of the church, and one died after being transported from the church. The victims range in age from 72 to 5.
Victim ages 5-72 years old.
— Blake Hanson (@BlakeFox4News) November 5, 2017
UPDATE (6:45 p.m.): Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said that 26 people were killed in Sunday's shooting, revising the death toll down by one. This is the deadliest mass shooting in the history of Texas.
TX Gov. says 26 people are dead after church shooting in Sutherland Springs, TX. He calls it the largest mass shooting in Texas history.
— Ana Cabrera (@AnaCabrera) November 5, 2017
The shooter, Devin Patrick Kelley, was dishonorably discharged from the Air Force in 2014. (UPDATED: This is apparently not entirely accurate. Kelley received a "bad-conduct discharge," not a dishonorable discharge. Regardless, he had a domestic violence conviction, meaning he should not have been able to pass a background check. Matt wrote on that here.)
#New Per CBS News' Len Tepper: #SutherlandSprings shooter Devin Patrick Kelley was dishonorably discharged from the US Air Force in 2014
— Omar Villafranca (@OmarVillafranca) November 5, 2017
A person with a dishonorable discharge is prohibited from owning a firearm.
UPDATE (5:50 p.m.): CBS has identified the suspect as 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley.
JUST IN: Suspect in Texas church shooting has been identified as Devin Patrick Kelley, sources tell CBS News https://t.co/iB6zuuPslE pic.twitter.com/gimMKQa17p
— CBS News (@CBSNews) November 5, 2017
UPDATE (5:40 p.m.): Rep. Vicente González (D-TX) apparently fell for a 4chan hoax and identified the shooter as "Sam Hyde." This is not true.
Rep. Vicente González just repeated the well-known 4chan hoax that the shooter's name was Sam Hyde. That name is circulated EVERY shooting pic.twitter.com/Aa6juBf8oM
— Brandon Wall (@Walldo) November 5, 2017
So far, all that has been identified about the shooter is that he's a white male in his 20s who lives outside San Antonio. Authorities are searching his home for explosives.
NEW: Authorities have preliminarily identified TX church shooter as white male in his mid-20s from outside San Antonio, sources tell @ABC.
— ABC News (@ABC) November 5, 2017
Pregnant women are among those killed.
KENS- TV reporting that pregnant women are among the victims of the mass shooting at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) November 5, 2017
UPDATE (4:55 p.m.): A Texas congressman said that the shooting is not believed to be connected to terrorism and that the shooter is not from the area. A press conference is beginning shortly.
UPDATE (4:15 p.m.): One of the deceased has been identified as the 14-year-old daughter of the church's pastor, Frank Pomeroy. Pomeroy said his daughter was a "beautiful, special child."
First Baptist Church Pastor Frank Pomeroy tells ABC his 14yr-old daughter is among the dead—Says she "was one very beautiful, special child"
— Michael Del Moro (@MikeDelMoro) November 5, 2017
Today's shooting is the deadliest mass shooting at a house of worship in modern U.S. history.
UPDATE (3:15 p.m.): President Trump says he's monitoring the situation from Japan, and offered his prayers as well.
May God be w/ the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas. The FBI & law enforcement are on the scene. I am monitoring the situation from Japan.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 5, 2017
As for the shooter, it is now being reported that he fled the scene in a vehicle before authorities caught up to him. It is unclear as to if he killed himself or if he was shot dead by police. There is still no word on his identity or motive.
UPDATE (3:05 p.m.): CNN is now reporting that 27 people are dead, with 24 others injured.
This is just awful. 27 dead, 24 injured at a shooting in Texas church @CNN pic.twitter.com/WcUMN768kV
— MJ Lee (@mj_lee) November 5, 2017
If these numbers are accurate, that means more than half of the church was killed in today's shooting.
Neighbors say they heard shooter may have reloaded multiple times, around 50 people usually at service pic.twitter.com/tkAYMp2Y8A
— Max Massey (@MaxMasseyTV) November 5, 2017
UPDATE (2:46 p.m.): The Wilson County commissioner is reporting that a possible 24 people are dead in the shooting, up from the original 10-15.
Live on @MSNBC right now, Wilson Co., TX commissioner Albert Gamez, Jr reports up to 24 dead in the church shooting in Sutherland Springs
— Jesse Rodriguez (@JesseRodriguez) November 5, 2017
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has offered his prayers to those affected.
Our prayers are with all who were harmed by this evil act. Our thanks to law enforcement for their response. More details from DPS soon. https://t.co/KMCRmOPkiM
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) November 5, 2017
---Original Post---
Not much is known right now, but up to 15 people are feared dead after a man opened fire at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. The man entered the church and began shooting around 11:30 a.m. Central on Sunday during services. Sutherland Springs is a very small town about 40 miles east of San Antonio. According to First Baptist Church's website, the church holds weekly services at 11 a.m. on Sundays.
Source in TX tells me as many as 10-15 dead in church shooting in Sutherland Springs, near San Antonio; suspect is down
— Jesse Rodriguez (@JesseRodriguez) November 5, 2017
Per witnesses at the scene, about 20 shots were fired. The FBI is currently on the scene.
JUST IN: Witness says as many as 20 shots fired at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas https://t.co/ZC919cZoUC
— CNN (@CNN) November 5, 2017
According to the police, the shooter has been "taken down" and is dead. Currently, nothing has been released about the shooter or any of the victims, and there is no word on a motive just yet.
This is a developing story and will be updated as details become available.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member