$2.3 Million To Help Texas Church Shooting Survivors Recover
AUSTIN, Texas (CBSDFW.COM/AP) — More than $2.3 million in grant funding has been allocated to provide long-term recovery services to survivors of the November 2017 mass shooting at a South Texas church that killed 25 people.
The massacre at the First Baptist Church of Sunderland Springs also left an unborn child dead, bringing the official death toll to 26.
Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement Thursday that the money will go toward providing counseling and other mental health services to those suffering the traumatic effects of the shootings.
"The act of pure evil inflicted on the faithful people of Sutherland Springs on November 5, 2017 will deeply affect the community, especially the surviving victims, for the rest of their lives," said Governor Abbott. "That is why it is so important that we continue to offer any necessary support to our fellow Texans still suffering from this tragedy. I hope these services will provide some relief and comfort for those Texans that need it the most."
It also will provide legal services to help survivors of those killed with probate, wills, estates and child custody rights.
The suspected gunman, Devin Patrick Kelley, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after being shot and chased by two residents as he left the church.
(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)