Man opens fire inside Baptist church
Shooter ‘taken down’ after killing multiple people at church in South Texas: Sheriff
SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas — A man opened fire inside of a Baptist church in a small South Texas community on Sunday, killing multiple people and wounding others before being “taken down,” authorities said.
The Wilson County News quoted Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackett on the casualties and that the shooter was now dead.
The number of fatalities or injuries hasn’t been confirmed by authorities, but a Wilson County commissioner, Albert Gamez, has told cable news outlets that he was told it was more than 20 killed and 20 wounded, though those figures aren’t confirmed.
It was not immediately clear if the church in Sutherland Springs, about 50 kilometres southeast of San Antonio, was holding services at the time of the shooting.
A spokeswoman said the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is sending special agents from field offices in Houston and San Antonio to the site of the shooting. ATF spokeswoman Mary Markos did not immediately have further details.
One hospital about 15 kilometres from the shooting says “multiple” victims with gunshot wounds are being treated.
Connally Memorial Medical Center spokeswoman Megan Posey declined to say how many patients were being treated at the hospital, but said the number was less than a dozen. The hospital is in Floresville, Texas.
A sheriff’s department dispatcher said everyone was at the scene and unavailable to comment.
KSAT showed video of several fire and police vehicles at the church and a photo of a helicopter arriving to transport victims to hospitals.
Texas Gov. Abbott tweeted Sunday: “Our prayers are with all who were harmed by this evil act.” He thanked law enforcement for their response. The Republican governor also promised “more details” from the state’s Department of Public Safety soon.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement that his office “stands ready to assist local law enforcement as needed.”
U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted from Japan, the first stop on his 12-day, five-country Asian trip, that he was monitoring the situation in Texas. Trump tweeted: “May God be w/ the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas.”