Police have updated the public on the actions of Devin Kelley, the Texas church shooter who unleashed bullets upon attendees at a Sunday service at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs. According to the Independent , it was previously believed that a 5-year-old was the youngest victim who perished in the shooting. However, it has now been confirmed that an 18-month-old baby was the youngest victim in the mass shooting, which killed at least 26 people. The oldest victim is listed as a 72-year-old, according to authorities.
As many as 20 other people were injured in the shooting. Devin began shooting victims approximately 20 minutes prior to church services beginning inside the small white church. The way Devin was dressed is described as ominous and alarming, with Kelley having donned all black tactical gear, a ballistics vest, and a face mask with a white skull on it.
Kelley didn’t wait to start shooting his victims once inside the church, but reportedly began shooting after leaving a gas station across the street and crossing the street to shoot at people inside. The gun Devin obtained was not legally acquired in light of Kelley’s history of violence. Formerly a member of the Air Force, Devin has a history of assault against his ex-wife, Tessa Kelley, and her child.
#TexasChurchMassacre suspect Devin Kelley had history of violence https://t.co/SAXfhqyXCB pic.twitter.com/YbNVLXliVR
— USA TODAY Video (@usatodayvideo) November 6, 2017
Not only did Devin’s ex-wife allege abuse at the hands of Kelley, so have Devin’s ex-girlfriends. Devin has been called a troubled man by women who describe how Kelley allegedly acted after they broke up, with Devin stalking and bribing the women to stay with him. Katy Landry called Devin “very sick in the head,” after she broke up with the man she had once met at church. Katy said that Devin ended up assaulting her and stalking her by constantly calling her and pulling prank calls, wherein Devin said “really weird stuff.”
Including the 18-month-old baby gunned down by Kelley, there were at least 14 children who were shot dead or wounded in the rampage. The 14-year-old daughter of the pastor was killed in the attack while the pastor was traveling. According to Fox News , Devin had even sent text message threats to his mother-in-law.
Authorities believe Devin Patrick Kelley died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, sheriff in Sutherland Springs says https://t.co/8NVVNjbtXF pic.twitter.com/OkkTh3Wojg
— CBS News (@CBSNews) November 6, 2017
[Featured Image by Scott Olson/Getty Images]
