A mass shooting by a gunman inside the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs has left 26 people dead and 20 others wounded, Sunday.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called the attack the deadliest mass shooting in his state’s history. Officials said 23 people were found dead inside the church, two outside, one died after being rushed to a hospital.
The shooting suspect has been identified as 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley, federal law enforcement.
Ex-president Barack Obamatweeted Sunday evening, “May God also grant all of us the wisdom to ask what concrete steps we can take to reduce the violence and weaponry in our midst.”
President Donald Trump who described the occurrence as an “act of evil” said “This isn’t a guns situation, this is a mental health problem at the highest level. It’s a very, very sad event.”
The victims ranged in age from 5 to 72 years old. Among the dead is the 14-year-old daughter of the church’s pastor, Frank Pomeroy, according to his wife, Sherri Pomeroy, the girl’s mother. The couple were traveling out of state when the shooting occurred.
On Sunday night, authorities only identified the suspect as a young white male. They said he was seen dressed in all black and tactical gear — including a “ballistic vest” — at a local gas station at 11:20 a.m. He then exited his vehicle, crossed the street and began firing an AR-15 style weapon at the church, officials said. The suspect entered the church and continued to fire.
As he exited the church, a local resident grabbed his gun and pursued the suspect, who dropped his weapon and fled the scene.
Late Sunday evening, around 100 people gathered near the church to remember the victims who were innocently gunned down earlier in the day. Gov. Abbott attended the vigil and met with community members in the midst of the tragedy.
