Texas Church Shooting- Over 20 Casualties

[aujeff11 6,243]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41880511

 

Quote

More than 20 people have been killed after a gunman opened fire at a church during Sunday services, police say.

The attack happened at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, a small town in Wilson County, Texas.

The gunman, who is reported to have been killed in the aftermath, entered the church and opened fire at around 11:30 local time (17:30 GMT).

Wilson County Commissioner Albert Gamez Jr said the gunman fled the scene in a vehicle before being killed. 

"You never expect something like this. My heart is broken," Mr Gamez Jr said. 

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Earlier estimates put the death toll as high as 27. Mr Gamez Jr told CNN he was told by an emergency medical technician at least 27 died and 24 others were wounded. 

About 50 people usually attend the service, locals said. The BBC's James Cook reported that children were among those killed.

• LIVE: Texas shooting updates

The First Baptist Church's pastor, Frank Pomeroy, has told ABC News that his 14-year-old daughter, Annabelle, was killed in the shooting. 

Mr Pomeroy, who was out of town in Oklahoma at the time, described her as "one very beautiful, special child" in a phone call to the television outlet. 

At least 10 victims, including four children, were being treated at the University Health System in nearby San Antonio, the hospital said in a tweet. 

The gunman died after a brief car chase into nearby Guadalupe County slightly to the north, a Sherriff's Office deputy from that county told CNN. 

But it is not clear if he was killed by police or killed himself, the spokesman said.

 

Media captionHow US mass shootings are getting worse

One witness, Carrie Matula, told NBC News: "We heard semi-automatic gunfire… we're only about 50 yards away from this church."

"This is a very small community, so everyone was very curious as to what was going on."

The pastor and his wife were out of town at the time, the pastor of neighbouring River Oak Church told KSAT 12.

"We were in the middle of our church service down the road when we got phone calls from friends about this - and they said there was an active shooter at First Baptist Church," he said.

"We had some first responders in our church, who immediately left and went down there. And then my church went to do what we do - we started praying… we knew the best thing we could do was stay out of the way".

He said people had been told some news which was "private and personal for the families that are here… we cannot release any of that".

Sutherland Springs is a small rural community with just a few hundred residents, which lies about 30 miles (50km) southeast of the Texas city of San Antonio.

The San Antonio FBI branch said its agents had been deployed, and there was no indication of the gunman's motive.

The FBI also said that while only one shooter was reported, it was looking into other possibilities.

Photos and video from the scene showed the area taped off by local law enforcement.

A number of helicopters have arrived to transport the wounded, KSAT 12 reporter Max Massey said.

Image copyrightKSAT 12 / REUTERS

Image captionFBI agents joined local law enforcement at the scene

Texas governor Greg Abbott said: "Our prayers are with all who were harmed by this evil act. Our thanks to law enforcement for their response."

He said more details would be released by the Texas Department of Public Safety shortly.

President Donald Trump, on a tour of Asia, tweeted he was "monitoring the situation from Japan".

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement: "The thoughts and prayers of all Texans are with the people of Sutherland Springs as tragic reports come out of First Baptist Church. My office stand ready to assist local law enforcement as need". 

The shooting comes just a month after a gunman in Las Vegas opened fire on an outdoor music festival, killing 58 people and wounding hundreds in the deadliest mass shooting in recent US history.

 

 

[Texan4Auburn 1,626]

Very sad.

There was a guy Saturday taking shots at cars on i35 here in Austin. Noone killed fortunately but children were put in intensive care.

http://www.kvue.com/news/local/four-injured-in-overnight-shooting/489104363

[bigbird 60,575]

Horrific

[AUDub 11,158]

The shooter's now deleted FB page. Motive remains to be seen. 

[RunInRed 16,449]

Another semi-automatic weapon ...

[AUDub 11,158]

Lot of fake news getting chucked around right now. 

[MDM4AU 335]

More proof of the pure evil that exists on this Earth. 

[augolf1716 21,237]

Sick people out there one never knows. No words can express the sadness

[around4ever 4,139]

What is wrong with people these days?   So sad and senseless.  Praying for these families and this community. 

[aujeff11 6,243]

Apparently there was a citizen that helped fight off Kelley. 

[AUDub 11,158]

 

[TitanTiger 20,499]

15 minutes ago, Bigbens42 said:

 

This sounds like a person who has no business having legal access to firearms.

[AUDub 11,158]

Just now, TitanTiger said:

This sounds like a person who has no business having legal access to firearms.

Probably not, but since he was a BCD and not a DD, he probably was able to purchase his weapon legally. Most states treat a DD like a felony, if I'm not mistaken. 

[Proud Tiger 4,261]

Please everyone......get off the gun control bit for just a little while and spend time praying for all the victims. If you don't pray at least keep them in your thoughts. Right now they need all the comfort they can get.

[TitanTiger 20,499]

1 minute ago, Proud Tiger said:

Please everyone......get off the gun control bit for just a little while and spend time praying for all the victims. If you don't pray at least keep them in your thoughts. Right now they need all the comfort they can get.

PT, we can actually do both.  This forum is for discussion of issues.

[Proud Tiger 4,261]

3 minutes ago, TitanTiger said:

PT, we can actually do both.  This forum is for discussion of issues.

Is it asking to much to have a separate thread to discuss gun control? Right now my heart is breaking for all those people.

 

[aujeff11 6,243]

My twin ( also a vet) is a part of a first responder group in my home church, so he has been carrying there for half of a year now. The church has a balcony in the rear of the sanctuary that literally sits above half of the ground floor congregation. Massive amounts of damage are possible without proactive measures as a shooter would have the same advantage point of shooting down into a fish barrel. 

I didn’t think the group was needed (and was surprised they were proactive enough to form a group ) but I guess I was wrong. We are living in some rough and volatile times with the shootings, race tensions, and the hate groups. The churches need to protect their interests. 

[aujeff11 6,243]

I’m guessing the domestic violence conviction barred him from legally owning a weapon.

[AUDub 11,158]

2 minutes ago, aujeff11 said:

I’m guessing the domestic violence conviction barred him from legally owning a weapon.

Even a misdemeanor DV charge disqualifies you in Texas. Strange he would post a picture of it on FB.

[TitanTiger 20,499]

8 hours ago, Proud Tiger said:

Is it asking to much to have a separate thread to discuss gun control? Right now my heart is breaking for all those people.

 

Well, since this one is already established as open to discussing all aspects, why don't you start a separate thread for what you wish to focus on?  It is indeed heartbreaking and I think we can manage to feel and discuss both aspects of it.  But you're welcome to start a thoughts and prayers thread if you like.

[aujeff11 6,243]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5053013/amp/Devin-Kelley-outcast-preached-atheism.html

Pretty detailed and comprehensive coverage of the known facts atm notwithstanding the source. Apparently, Devin Kelley was an outcast and an atheist. How many shooters have been atheist? Not many from my recollection of memories. With that said this guy was probably mentally ill. I’m willing to bet he wasn’t getting help for it as well. Republicans and Democrats should be pouring millions and millions of dollars into mental health studies and care. Not the opposite- closing down mental health institutions and putting these people on the streets. 

As discussed before, these fringe nut kids are the type that ISIS targets on a daily basis, I’m sure they’re kicking themselves over not finding him first. 

[Strychnine 1,802]

10 hours ago, Bigbens42 said:

Even a misdemeanor DV charge disqualifies you in Texas. Strange he would post a picture of it on FB.

 

Plenty of individuals will sell firearms without bothering to check.

[autigeremt 6,657]

At the end of the day an evil minded idiot decided to act selfishly and take the lives of others. No gun control law will stop that. Go ahead and try it....it won't make a difference. People these days are bent on this crap and it will continue no matter what people do or what law is passed. The wild wild west is back. Sickening.

[Brad_ATX 13,654]

Governor Abbott said today the firearm used was not obtained legally and the shooter was previously denied the opportunity to purchase a gun in the state due to his past.

[AUDub 11,158]

Last I heard he purchased the gun in April 2016 at Academy Sports in San Antonio, checking the box indicating no criminal history. Somebody didn't do their due diligence.