Church bloodbath as gunman strikes

A GUNMAN wearing combat gear and a bulletproof vest yesterday massacred a church congregation in Texas, shooting down 26 people in a cold- blooded assault.

Former air force pilot and Bible studies teacher Devin Kelley burst into the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs as a Sunday service was taking place at 11.20am local time and opened fire before he was found dead after a pursuit involving a riflewielding neighbour.

The 26- year- old killed 26 people and wounded about 20 in what Texas Governor Greg Abbott called the deadliest mass shooting in the state’s history.

The dead ranged from five to 72.

US President Donald Trump promised a full investigation into the shooting as a taskforce last night worked to identify the victims.

“In dark times such as these, Americans do what we do best: we pull together. We join hands. We lock arms,” Mr Trump said. in age

Authorities could last night offer no motive for what drove Mr Kelley, a married resident of nearby New Braunfels, to turn on churchgoers in the tight- knit country town about 45 minutes from San Antonio.

Authorities revealed a video camera was rolling inside the church and will now become evidence.

Mr Kelley had previously served in the air force but was discharged in 2014 for allegedly assaulting his spouse and child. A law enforcement official said investigators were looking at social media posts Mr Kelley may have made in the days before the attack, including one that appeared to show an AR- 15- style semiautomatic weapon.

The gunman was dressed entirely in black as he parked at a petrol station across from the white wooden First Baptist Church shortly after the 11am service started. Wearing a bulletproof vest, he crossed the dusty road and opened fire on two people outside the church, killing them.

He then entered the building and strafed the congre- gation, killing 24 worshippers and injuring at least 20 more.

Hearing gunfire, an unidentified man who lived next to the church grabbed his own rifle and headed towards the shooter.

“As he exited the church, a local resident engaged the suspect,” regional director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, Freeman Martin, said. “The suspect dropped his rifle and fled.”

Authorities last night would not offer additional information on the neighbour or formally identify victims.