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Authorities Identify Gunman in Texas Church Shooting

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By Meg Storm
Writer

November 5, 2017

Multiple news outlets are reporting that authorities have identified the gunman in the shooting massacre at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas on Sunday. Unnamed law enforcement sources have named 26-year-old Devin P. Kelley of New Braunfels, Texas the shooter.

JUST IN: Church shooting suspect identified as Devin Kelley, of New Braunfels, Texas, according to state and federal law enforcement sources

— ABC News (@ABC) November 5, 2017

Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX) told the New York Times that he was briefed by authorities who told him the gunman came from Comal County, which is northeast of San Antonio. It is unclear what, if any, connection he has to the church.

“He went there, he walked in, started shooting people and then took off,” Cuellar said of Kelley. He was  fatally shot by police about five miles away from the church in Guadalupe County, after a brief chase resulted in him being cornered by deputies.

According to the Associated Press, Kelly doesn’t appear to be linked to any organized terrorist groups. Investigators are said to be looking at social media posts Kelley may have made in the days before Sunday’s attack, including one that appeared to show an AR-15 semiautomatic weapon.

CBS News correspondent David Begnaud tweeted that the suspect was dishonorably discharged from the United States Air Force in 2014 after a court martial.

CBS News reports:
Suspect is fmr. US Air Force E1
(2010-2014)
He received a dishonorable discharge
He was court martialed in May 2014 https://t.co/I2IYB1Ih9D

— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) November 5, 2017

While authorities have not released an official death toll, Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt said “more than 20” people were killed after a gunman walked into the church around 11:30 a.m. on Sunday and opened fire. First Baptist Pastor Frank Pomeroy’s 14-year-old daughter Annabelle is confirmed to be among the dead.

“[She] was one very beautiful special child,” the pastor told ABC News.

This is a developing news story. Faithwire will update as details become available HERE.

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