On the bright morning of the 5th November, the death bell rang in a church. More than 20 believers were killed in the mass shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.
A single shooter walked in the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas on Sunday morning and opened fire, killing at least 26 worshippers dead and much more injured.
Sutherland Springs, a small town in the countryside more than 30 miles southeast of San Antonio. The mass shooting claimed the lives of people ranging from 5 to 72 years old.
The shooter, described by witnesses as a white man dressed in all black clothing and a tactical vest. The number of the dead at the First Baptist church, in the small town 30 miles south-east of San Antonio, made the killing the worst mass shooting in modern Texas history and one of the worst such gun rampages in recent years. The lone shooter was killed as he was being chased by police across county lines.
The police officials received the news of the shooting at around 11:20 in the morning. The officials said that the suspect began firing a Ruger assault rifle outside of the church and then entered the building as he continued to fire. Authorities said that as the gunman exited the church he was confronted by a local citizen who, armed with his own weapon, began firing at the gunman — prompting the suspect to flee in his vehicle.
The officials chased the lone shooter and just as he reached Guadalupe County his vehicle veered off the road. He was found in the car dead, it is not known whether by his own hand or having been shot by a local resident.
Twenty-three were killed in the church, two were shot and killed outside the church and one died at an area hospital.
The shooting led to dramatic scenes in the tiny community of Sutherland Springs. A local television station, KSAT, reported that two Airlife helicopters were on hand to take victims to hospitals. At least 10 were taken to Connally Memorial Medical Center in Floresville. Eight others were sent to the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.
The pastor of First Baptist, Frank Pomeroy, and his wife Sherri was out of town when the shooting happened. Sherri Pomeroy said their 14-year-old daughter had died inside the church. She added that she had also lost “many friends” in the massacre.
The shooting comes a month after a gunman opened fire at an open-air concert in Las Vegas, leaving 58 dead and 546 injured.
Two law enforcement officials reported that the suspect has been identified as Devin Kelley, 26, a Texas man who lived in a nearby county. Those officials did not see any immediate sign that he was motivated by international terror groups, but they cautioned the investigation is still in its early stages. Authorities had not yet provided any information about a possible motive for the shooting as of Sunday evening.
Federal authorities, including from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI, are on the scene. The Texas Ranger Division of the state’s Department of Public Safety also is involved in the investigation.
The authorities are beginning to piece together what happened, it is possible they will be assisted by the church’s own video footage. First Baptist was in the habit of recording all its Sunday services and posting them on YouTube.
President Trump, who is traveling in Asia, said in a tweet Sunday afternoon that he is “monitoring the situation from Japan.” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Trump has spoken with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and is receiving regular updates on the investigation.
May God be w/ the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas. The FBI & law enforcement are on the scene. I am monitoring the situation from Japan.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 5, 2017
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