A gunman who opened fire at a small Texas church on Sunday has killed 26 people and wounded at least 20.
No name has been released and no motive identified for the gunman who was either killed or killed himself following the shooting at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs.
91裸聊视频淲e believe he91裸聊视频檚 a young white male, maybe in his early 20s, dressed in all black tactical type gear,91裸聊视频� said Texas Department of Public Safety regional director Freeman Martin.
91裸聊视频淗e was wearing a ballistic vest.91裸聊视频�
Suspect in Texas church shooting was a "young white male in his early 20s," authorities say. Won't confirm name yet
91裸聊视频� Kat Slepian (@katslepian)
Texas Gov. Greg Abbot confirmed the number of dead and said he had already spoken to President Donald Trump and both of Texas91裸聊视频� senators.
91裸聊视频淲e are dealing with the largest mass shooting in our state91裸聊视频檚 history,91裸聊视频� he said during a press conference Sunday afternoon.
The governor said his thoughts and prayers were with the victims and that 91裸聊视频渢he details of this horrific act are still under investigation.91裸聊视频�
Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt Jr. thanked the public for their outpouring of support.
91裸聊视频淲e don91裸聊视频檛 have any names of any of the victims,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e still trying to work the crime scene.91裸聊视频�
Martin said that the shooter was first spotted at a gas station across the street from the church at 11 a.m. local time (9 a.m. PST). This was confirmed after the shooting took place, not before, authorities noted.
He then crossed the street to the church, exited his vehicle and began firing at the church from the outside before entering the building as he continued to shoot.
91裸聊视频淎s he exited the church, a local resident grabbed his rifle and engaged the suspect,91裸聊视频� said Martin.
91裸聊视频淭he suspect dropped his rifle 91裸聊视频� which was an91裸聊视频� AR assault-type rifle 91裸聊视频� and fled from the church.91裸聊视频�
The local resident followed the suspect as he got into his car and drove off before veering off the road.
The suspect was found dead in his vehicle, although law enforcement could not confirm how he died.
Special agents from ATF91裸聊视频檚 Houston Field Division, San Antonio Field Office are responding to a shooting at a church in Sutherland Spring, TX
91裸聊视频� ATF HQ (@ATFHQ)
The shooting, which took place at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, is the second mass shooting in the U.S. in less than two months. On Oct. 1, in Las Vegas, killing 58 people and injuring more than 500.
The community of Sutherland Springs, where the population numbers in the hundreds, is a small unincorporated area in Wilson County approximately 30 miles southeast of San Antonio.
The wounded were taken to hospitals. Video on KSAT television showed first responders taking a stretcher from the church to a waiting AirLife helicopter. Some victims were taken by medical helicopter to the Brooke Army Medical Center, the station said.
Megan Posey, a spokeswoman for Connally Memorial Medical Center, which is in Floresville and about 10 miles from the church, said 91裸聊视频渕ultiple91裸聊视频� victims were being treated for gunshot wounds. She declined to give a specific number but said it was less than a dozen.
A woman who lives about 10 minutes away from Sutherland Springs in Floresville and was monitoring the chaos on a police scanner and in Facebook community groups, said that everyone knows everyone in the sparsely populated county.
91裸聊视频淭his is horrific for our tiny little tight-knit town,91裸聊视频� said Alena Berlanga. 91裸聊视频淓verybody91裸聊视频檚 going to be affected and everybody knows someone who91裸聊视频檚 affected,91裸聊视频� she said.
President Trump, currently in Japan, tweeted to say that the FBI was investigating the shooting.
May God be w/ the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas. The FBI & law enforcement are on the scene. I am monitoring the situation from Japan.
91裸聊视频� Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also offered his thoughts and prayers, adding that 91裸聊视频渕y office stands ready to assist local law enforcement as needed.91裸聊视频�
Condolences are pouring in on the church91裸聊视频檚 Facebook page:
91裸聊视频� with files from The Canadian Press
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