Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen
Podcasts AirTalk
New details emerge from Texas’ deadliest mass shooting in history
solid blue rectangular banner
()
AirTalk Tile 2024
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.

Nov 6, 2017
Listen 15:08
New details emerge from Texas’ deadliest mass shooting in history
On Sunday, a gunman dressed in black opened fire outside First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, a small town about 30 miles east of San Antonio with a population of just under 500.
SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, TX - NOVEMBER 5:  Law enforcement officials gather near the First Baptist Church following a shooting on November 5, 2017 in Sutherland Springs, Texas. At least 20 people were reportedly killed and 24 injured when a gunman, identified as Devin P. Kelley, 26, allegedly entered the church during a service and opened fire.  (Photo by Erich Schlegel/Getty Images)
Law enforcement officials gather near the First Baptist Church following a shooting on November 5, 2017 in Sutherland Springs, Texas.
(
Erich Schlegel/Getty Images
)

On Sunday, a gunman dressed in black opened fire outside First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, a small town about 30 miles east of San Antonio with a population of just under 500.

On Sunday, a gunman dressed in black opened fire outside First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, a small town about 30 miles east of San Antonio with a population of just under 500.

The gunman then entered into the church in the midst of its service and proceeded to spray bullets, killing 26 victims and injuring 20 others, the youngest victim now reported to be 18-months-old.

The shooter, who eventually killed himself after attempting to escape by car, has been identified as 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley, a resident of New Braunfels, Texas. But new details released by Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt Jr. have confirmed that the incident is a domestic issue and not racially motivated, although details surrounding the shooter’s motive are still unclear.

Kelley, a member of the U.S. Air Force before being court-martialed for assaulting his then wife and child, had sent threatening text messages to his ex-mother in law. She is a regular member of the church, but was not at Sunday's service.

We get the latest from two reporters on the scene in Sutherland Springs.

Guests:

Caleb Downs, crime reporter for San Antonio Express News who is in Sutherland Springs and following the story

Silvia Foster-Frau, reporter for the San Antonio Express News; she has been speaking to members of the church community; she tweets

Credits
Host, AirTalk
Host, All Things Considered, AirTalk Friday
Senior Producer, AirTalk & FilmWeek
Producer, AirTalk with Larry Mantle
Producer, AirTalk with Larry Mantle
Associate Producer, AirTalk with Larry Mantle
Apprentice News Clerk, AirTalk
Apprentice News Clerk, FilmWeek