Sheriff: 26 Killed In Texas Church Shooting
SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas (AP) — The Latest on a shooting at a church in Texas (all times local):
7:50 p.m.
People who live near an address listed for the Texas church shooting suspect say they heard intense gunfire from that direction in recent days.
Sixteen-year-old Ryan Albers lives across the road from the listed home of suspect Devin Kelley. He says: "It's really loud. At first I thought someone was blasting."
He says "It was someone using automatic weapon fire."
Another nearby neighbor, who did not want to be identified, said he had also heard gunfire coming from across the street but couldn't be sure if it came from the property listed as Kelley's address. The neighbor added that the sound of gunfire is not unusual in the area given the seclusion and the big acreage of the surrounding properties.
Authorities say 26 people were killed and about 20 wounded in the shooting.
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7:30 p.m.
A U.S. military official says the suspect identified in the mass shooting at a Texas church was a former Air Force member who was stationed in New Mexico at one time.
Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek says records confirm that Devin P. Kelley served in Logistics Readiness at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico from 2010 until his discharge. The date of his discharge and the circumstances under which he left the service were not immediately available.
The Pentagon also confirmed that Kelley was an airman "at one point," but didn't provide additional details.
Authorities say 26 people were killed and about 20 others wounded in the attack in Sutherland Springs.
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7:15 p.m.
President Donald Trump has promised his administration's full support to the investigation of a Texas church shooting that left 26 dead and about 20 wounded.
Speaking to U.S. and Japanese business leaders in Tokyo Monday morning during his Asian trip, Trump highlighted that this "act of evil" at a place of sacred worship.
Trump says: "Our hearts are broken but in dark times -- and these are dark times -- such as these, Americans do what they do best." He says Americans will pull together to help those suffering.
Trump says he will continue monitoring the investigation during his 11-day tour.
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7:05 p.m.
More than 100 people gathered after dark on a grassy street corner within sight of the church where the shooting occurred for a prayer vigil.
Attendees, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, lit candles while some wept and others hugged Sunday night. They could see the church sign lit up and emergency lights flashing.
The vigil across the street from a gas station convenience store where law enforcement officials say the shooter stopped before the attack.
Mike Gonzales, who does not attend the church but lives near says: "The people of this church are wonderful people." Gonzales added, "We're coming together to pray for them and show the world that now, in the midst of darkness, there is light."
Authorities say 26 people were killed and about 20 wounded in the attack.
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7 p.m.
The Pentagon has confirmed the suspect identified in the mass shooting at a Texas church previously served in the Air Force.
In a brief statement, the Pentagon says Devin Kelley was an airman "at one point," but additional details about his time in the Air Force were not immediately available.
Authorities say 26 people were killed and about 20 others injured in the attack at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, 30 miles southeast of San Antonio.
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6:45 p.m.
Two sheriff's vans were parked outside and police officers stood at the gate of a cattle fence surrounding the address listed for the Texas church shooting suspect, preventing a group of waiting journalists from entering.
Two officials who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity have identified him as Devin Kelley.
Officials from the Comal County Sherriff's Office and the Texas Rangers declined to comment Sunday evening, or to say if they had raided his home. A few minutes later, the gate opened and two Texas Rangers trucks pulled out.
The home is in a wooded area on the rural, western outskirts of New Braunfels, north of San Antonio. It is off a two-lane highway.
Authorities say 26 people were killed and about 20 wounded in the shooting.
3:30 p.m.
A law enforcement official says more than 20 people have been killed in a shooting at a church in a small town outside San Antonio.
The official, who was briefed on the investigation, says the gunman fled the church in a vehicle after the shooting and was also killed, either by a self-inflicted wound or during a confrontation with police. The official was not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
The official says between 10 to 15 people were also injured but stressed the investigation was early and the figures could change. Authorities are still trying to determine a motive.
Federal law enforcement swarmed the scene to offer assistance, including ATF investigators and members of the FBI's evidence collection team.
Associated Press writer Sadie Gurman in Washington contributed to this report.
2:45 p.m.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is calling a reported shooting at a church in a small town outside San Antonio an "evil act."
A sheriff says a man entered First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, and started shooting, leaving multiple people dead and injured.
Abbott tweeted Sunday: "Our prayers are with all who were harmed by this evil act." He thanked law enforcement for their response.
The Republican governor has also promised "more details" from the state's Department of Public Safety soon.
Sutherland Springs is about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of San Antonio.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement that his office "stands ready to assist local law enforcement as needed."
2:35 p.m.
President Donald Trump has tweeted from Japan that he is monitoring the situation in Texas following a mass shooting at a church.
Trump tweeted: "May God be w/ the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas." He added that the FBI is on the scene.
Trump is in Japan as part of a 12-day, five-country Asian trip.
2:25 p.m.
A spokeswoman says the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is sending special agents from field offices in Houston and San Antonio to the site of a church shooting in South Texas.
ATF spokeswoman Mary Markos did not immediately have further details.
A sheriff says that a man walked into the church and started firing. Authorities say the attacker is dead.
The number of fatalities or injuries hasn't been confirmed by authorities, but a Wilson County commissioner, Albert Gamez, has told cable news outlets that he was told it was more than 20 killed and 20 wounded, though those figures aren't confirmed.
One hospital about 10 miles from the shooting says there "multiple" victims with gunshot wounds are being treated.
Connally Memorial Medical Center spokeswoman Megan Posey declined to say how many patients were being treated at the hospital, but said the number was less than a dozen. The hospital is in Floresville, Texas.
2:15 p.m.
A County Commissioner in Texas says he's been told that more than 20 people were killed and more than 20 were wounded in an attack at a church, though he says those figures haven't been confirmed.
Albert Gamez, a Wilson County commissioner, made the comments to cable news outlets after the attack Sunday at a Baptist church in Sutherland Springs, a small community 30 miles southeast of San Antonio.
A sheriff says that a man walked into the church and started firing. Authorities say the attacker was later killed.
1:20 p.m.
A sheriff says a man walked into a Baptist church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, and started shooting, leaving multiple people dead.
The Wilson County News reports that Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt said the shooter has been taken down. It wasn't immediately known how many people were killed and wounded or who carried out the attack.
First responders converged on the church in the small town southeast of San Antonio and helicopters are taking victims to hospitals.
Sutherland Springs is a community of about 400 people 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of San Antonio.
1 p.m.
Local news outlets report that several people have been shot at a Baptist Church in South Texas.
Television stations KSAT and KENS report that there are multiple victims and that there is a large police presence at the church in Sutherland Springs, which is 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of San Antonio.
KSAT reports that two Airlife helicopters are also at the scene.
A sheriff's department dispatcher says everyone is at the scene and unavailable to comment.
KSAT has video of several fire and police vehicles at the church and a photo of a helicopter that the station says was arriving to take victims to hospitals.
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