Blunder left Texas church killer free to buy weapons

THE Texas church gunman was free to buy weapons because the US air force failed to submit his criminal history to the FBI.

Devin Kelley, who massacred 26 worshippers on Sunday, was thrown out of the military in 2014 for an assault in which he choked his ex-wife and fractured his stepson’s skull.

Pentagon rules require convictions of military personnel to be entered into a federal database. The US air force acknowledged yesterday that if the past offences by the 26year-old had been properly shared, he would not have been able to buy guns. Kelley owned four, including the three he had with him during the attack – a Ruger AR-15 that was used in the church and two handguns that were in his car.

They were all purchased between 2014 and this year. Police say Kelley fired at least 450 rounds of ammunition at worshippers in the attack at the tiny First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs.

The dead ranged in age from 18 months to 77 years old. He had argued with his mother-inlaw before entering the church and shooting almost everyone inside. Police believe Kelley died of a self-inflicted gunshot.