Deadliest Shooting in US House of Worship – Children, Pregnant Woman Among Dead
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott at a Sunday evening press conference said 26 people were murdered by a white male in his 20’s at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs. A gunman, from the nearby San Antonio area, was in tactical gear with reportedly a semi-automatic weapon when he opened fire at about 11:30 AM local time. The suspected shooter has been identified by CBS News as 26-year old Devin Patrick Kelley, and is now dead.
Among the dead are children, at least one pregnant woman, and the church pastor’s 14-year old daughter.
Sutherland Springs is a small town of about 643 people. It is more than 94 percent white. The massacre has taken a sizable number of its residents, about one of every 30 people.
“A parishioner, Sandy Ward,” The New York Times reports, “said in an interview on Sunday that a daughter-in-law and three of her grandchildren were shot. Her grandson, who is 5, was shot four times and remained in surgery as of Sunday night. She said she was awaiting word on her other family members.”
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick was quick to invoke his faith as a Christian, quoting the Book of Matthew: “They will hate you” because they are Christians.
“As Christians, we stand firm on a day like today in our faith,” Patrick added. “We will not be shaken in our faith for Jesus Christ.”
EARLIER STORIES:
‘Thoughts and Prayers’ Pour Out to Sutherland Springs, Site of America’s Latest Mass Shooting
UPDATING: Multiple People Reported Dead or Injured in Texas Church Mass Shooting
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