A former US airman turned a Texas church into a killing field Sunday morning, opening fire during a prayer service and slaughtering 26 people, including children and a pregnant woman, authorities said.
Devin Patrick Kelley, 26 — clad in all-black “tactical-type gear and a ballistic vest” and toting an assault rifle — drove up to the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, near San Antonio, about 11:20 a.m., officials said.
He then got out of his white SUV and began firing through the church’s front doors, Texas Department of Public Safety Major Freeman Martin said.
Kelley eventually moved into the church in the tiny rural town to continue his onslaught and then again outside, where he continued shooting, Martin said.
The dead ranged in age from 5 to 72.
“There are 26 lives that have been lost. We don’t know if that number will rise or not — all we know is that’s too many,” said Gov. Greg Abbott.
One of those shot was a 2-year-old.
Among the dead was First Baptist pastor Frank Pomeroy’s 14-year-old daughter, Annabelle. The grieving dad described her as “one very beautiful special child,” according to ABC News.
“We loved our Belle so much,” the pastor’s wife, Sherri Newman Pomeroy, posted on Facebook underneath a photo of the dark-haired girl smiling by a swimming pool.
Sherri Pomeroy told the Associated Press she had also lost “many friends” in the attack. Both she and the pastor were out of town when the shooting occurred and were racing back home.
“We are praying for y’all. Love you,” well-wisher June Roe McGee wrote to the grieving mom.
Sherri Pomeroy also posted a photo of herself along with three other women.
“Will so miss them all,” replied friend Aaron Staton.
US Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas said a pregnant woman, several children and a 72-year-old were among the dead.
The grandmother of a 7-year-old victim told NBC: “We just found out she’s not going to make it.”
Parishioner Sandy Ward said her daughter-in-law and three of her grandchildren — including a 5-year-old who was struck four times and remained in surgery Sunday night — were among the shooting victims.
“I just started praying for everybody who was there,” said Ward, who told the New York Times she skipped service that morning because she had trouble walking.
Nick Uhlig, 34, said his pregnant cousin — the mother of three children — was one of those killed. He said he didn’t attend church with her, as he usually did, because he had stayed out too late the night before.
Investigators are still piecing together why Kelley would commit such a heinous act.
The San Antonio police bomb squad searched his vehicle and home, according to reports.
There may be video clues inside the church, which records its weekly services and posts them to YouTube.
President Trump, who is away on a 12-day junket to Asia, addressed the nation on television Sunday evening.
“We cannot put into words the pain and grief we all feel and we cannot begin to imagine the suffering of those who lost [loved ones],” Trump said.
Abbott said he had heard from the president.
“This will be a long-suffering mourning for those in pain,” the governor said during a press conference.
The town — population about 400 — is about 35 miles southwest of San Antonio.
The violence comes just a month after the US’ worst modern mass shooting, when Stephen Paddock opened fire on an outdoor Las Vegas concert on Oct. 1, killing 58 and injuring hundreds.
With wire services