Devin Kelley: Gunman who massacred at least 26 in Sutherland Springs Baptist Church identified
One of the youngest victims was a five-year-old boy, who has been rushed to the hospital
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Your support makes all the difference.The gunman who killed at least 26 people in a Texan Baptist church has been identified as Devin Patrick Kelley.
Law enforcement sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, provided the information to the Associated Press.
The 26-year-old from the city of San Antonio, although he had relatives in the small town of Sutherland Springs where the shooting took place. His Linked in profile suggest he served in the US Air Force.
Police said the shooter entered the church with a rifle, fled in a vehicle and was later found dead. The exact circumstances of his death are under investigation, they said.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said the shooting was the worst in the state's history in modern times. He also confirmed the number of victims.
A pregnant woman and children were among those identified as dead by officials, who said that at least 20 others had been injured in the attack.
Officials said that they were investigating social media accounts of Kelley, and indicated that he had been pictured on at least one online platform with an assault-style rifle resembling an AR-15.
"He went there, he walked in, started shooting people and then took off" to Guadalupe County, Representative Henry Cuellar, of Texas, told the New York Times. Mr Cuellar said the gunman came from Comal County, which is located northeast of San Antonio.
Sutherland Springs' population is in the low hundreds, with just 362 people living there according to the 2000 census. The death toll in the shooting would constitute roughly 7 per cent of that town's population.
"Our prayers are with all who were harmed by this evil act. Our thanks to law enforcement for their response," Mr Abbott wrote on Twitter following the attack.
The town has been described in media reports as a "one blinking light town", and one that appears to be deeply religious.
At least eight of the shooting victims were taken to a nearby hospital in San Antonio. One of those victims was a five year old boy who was shot several times during the attack. One of the victims has been identified as the church pastors 14-year-old daughter, although the pastor was reportedly not present during the shooting.
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