Mary Morgan Smith - November 13th

Mass Shooting at Texas Church

Last Sunday, at least 26 people were killed and 20 more wounded when a lone gunman opened fire on a congregation at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Sutherland Springs is a small, close-knit community about 30 miles east of San Antonio. The shooter was Devin Patrick Kelley, a 26-year-old white man from New Braunfels, Texas. Kelley served in the U.S. Air Force from 2010 until 2014, and was stationed at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. In 2012, he was court-martialed for assaulting his spouse and their child. At 11:20 am on the morning of the shooting, Kelley was spotted at a gas station across the street from the church, wearing all black and dressed in a bullet-proof vest. He then left the gas station and entered the church and began shooting.As Kelley left the church, a local resident began firing his own weapon at the shooter, who ran away. The citizen chased him. Later, after a brief chase, police found Kelley dead in his vehicle of a gunshot wound. Authorities aren’t sure yet if the wound was self-inflicted or if Kelley was fatally shot by the citizen. Additional firearms were also found in the vehicle. So far, the shooter’s motive is still unknown. The shooting victims range in age from 5 to 72 years old. Among those killed is the 14-year-old daughter of the church’s pastor. This weekend the first service has held to remember those who lost their lives. My heart goes out to all of those who have been effected by the terrible event. I have no idea how someone feels the need to do this. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/texas-church-shooting