– At least 26 people were shot dead by the gunman and at least 24 others are being treated for injuries
– Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, a married father, was wearing black, tactical gear and carrying a military style assault rifle when walked into the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs in Texas and opened fire
– Kelley of New Braunfels, San Antonio, was confronted by a neighbor armed with a rifle who shot him through a gap in his body armor
– The gunman then fled but was pursued by neighbor Stephen Willeford, 55, and Johnnie Langendorff
– Kelley lost control of his car during the high speed chase and Langendorff says he was shot dead by Willeford
The mass shooter who opened fire during Mass inside a Texas church killing at least 26 – including eight members of one family – has been identified as a 26-year-old former Bible study teacher who was dishonourably discharged from the US Air Force for assaulting his wife and child.
Devin Patrick Kelley, a married father, 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, of New Braunfels, a suburb of San Antonio, was confronted by local hero Stephen Willeford, 55, who shot him through a gap in his body armor as the gunman tried to leave the church. Kelley was reportedly killed by that same brave neighbor following a high speed car chase.
At least 26 people were killed in the shooting, but the death toll is expected to climb, authorities say. Victims include a two-year-old girl and the 14-year-old daughter of the pastor.
Eight members of one family, including a five-months-pregnant mother and three of her children were killed, a community leader and relative told CNN, without revealing their identities.
The Connally Memorial Medical Center said ‘multiple’ victims are being treated.
Last night, San Antonio police raided Kelley’s home with K9 and bomb squad units, along with agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives unit and FBI.
Kelley was a US Air Force veteran and former Bible studies teacher but his Facebook page, which has been deleted by the FBI, reveals he had a worrying fascination with weaponry.
He’d recently shared a photo of an AR-15 style gun on Facebook with the caption: ‘She’s a bad b***h.’
The 26-year-old was married to Danielle Shields, and they appear to have a child together. She was previously a teacher at the First Baptist Church.
Kelley lived at his parents’ home with his wife and child and neighbor Mark Moravitz told ABC News he would sometimes hear gunshots coming from near that house late at night.
The gunman’s mother-in-law, Michelle Shields, also appears to have been a parishioner at the church and was friends on social media with the pastor’s wife.
It is not clear whether they were at the church at the time of the shooting.
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. The Pentagon confirmed he was an airman ‘at one point,’ but did not release further details.
He worked in logistics and supply in the Air Force until he was kicked out for assaulting his wife and their child. Kelley was court-martialled for two counts of assaulting his spouse and kid, and received 12 months ‘confinement’ and a dishonorable discharge in 2014, CBS reported.
