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UPDATE: Multiple Casualties Reported Following Texas Church Shooting

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On November 5, 2017, we reported that local authorities in Sutherland Springs, Texas had identified that a lone gunman had opened fire in a local church, leaving several wounded and multiple casualties. The gunman has reportedly been found dead in his vehicle some distance from the scene of the crime, and the Wilson County Commissioner, Albert Gamez Jr., identified to NBC News that the shooter did, in fact, operate alone. The event has now been defined as the deadliest mass shooting in Texas history.

Having in-laws who attended the church where he committed this crime, Devin Patrick Kelley has been identified as the shooter. As further details become released from the crime scene, it’s been reported that, in total, 26 people were killed, ranging in age from 18 months to 77 years old. Witnesses described seeing the man enter the First Baptist Church and start shooting at approximately 11:30 a.m. It has also been reported that Kelley’s own mother-in-law attended that church, but was absent at the time of the shooting. Kelley had reportedly sent her a text that very morning.

UPDATE: Multiple Casualties Reported Following Texas Church Shooting

Photo: Facebook/Los Angeles Times

Upon exiting the church, Kelley was confronted and shot by an armed resident of Sutherland Springs, at which point it’s been reported that he phoned his father to say he probably wasn’t going to make it and fled the scene. County Sheriff Joe Tackitt was identified by The Wilson County News to have explained that the shooter has since been found dead in his car several miles from the church. His fatal wound was reported to have been self-inflicted. Ten people remain in a critical condition out of the 20 that have been reported as wounded. This is in addition to the 26 people which were fatally shot. Many of the victims (eight in total) were from three generations of one family in particular, and this shooting has resulted in the loss of 4% of the town of Sutherland Springs’ population.

References:

CNN

The Hill

LA Times

NBC News